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PROSCRIPTION DELINEATED 



OR A 



DEVELOPEMENT OF FACTS 



APPERTAINING TO THE 



ARBITRARY AND OPPRESSIVE PROCEEDINGS 



NORTH ASSOCIATION 



LITCHFIELD COUNTY, 



IN RELATION TO THE AUTHOR, 



BY DANIEL PARKER, 

LATE PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN SHARON, CONNECTICUT, 



Carthago delenda est. Cassar, 
-longa est injuria, longae 



Ambages : sed summa sequar vestigia rerum. Virg> 



HUDSONt 

PUBLISHED FOE THE AUTHOR, BY STONE AND 



1819, 



■-& 






B. 



SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, s*< 



>E IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth day of Ja- 
nuary, in the forty-third year of the Independence of the Uni- 
ted States of America, DANIEL PARKER, of the said dis- 
trict, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right 
-whereof he claims as Author and Proprietor, in the words fol- 
lowing, to wit : 

" PROSCRIPTION DELINEATED ; or a Develope- 
<< ment of Facts appertaining to the arbitrary and oppressive 
ie Proceedings of the North Association of Litchfield Coun- 
<< ty, in relation to the Author. By Daniel Parker, Late 
«« Pastor of a Church in Sharon, Conn. 

'* Carthago delenda est. Caesar. 

« — ■ ■ longa est injuria, longae 

* f Ambages : sed summa sequar vestigia rerum. Virgil.'* 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United 
States, entitled " An Act for the encouragement of Learn- 
ing, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books to 
the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time 
therein mentioned." And also to an act, entitled " an Act 
supplementary to an Act, entitled an act for the encouragement 
of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books 
to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times 
therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the 
arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other 
prints." 

JAMES DILL, 
Clerk of the southern district of Kern -Tor &*■ 



ADVERTISEMENT. 

X HE necessity of making public the following de- 
velopement, is not less painful than unpleasant. Eve- 
ry possible exertion had been used which I could de- 
vise, to render tlio puirU«a.^;<>«. unnecessary ; but each 
attempt has proved- ineffectual. The singular efforts 
which have been adopted and pursued by certain indi- 
viduals, for several years past, have been of so flagrant 
a nature, as to demand detection for the safety of oth- 
ers, and of community. 

Probably the annals of no protestant country, and 
certainly not of our own, can furnish data in any meas- 
ure comparable with the unprecedented acts and pro- 
cedure which are here disclosed. 

I ask for nothing but facts, and a decision corres- 
pondent with them. To these I am justly entitled, 
and to these I cheerfully and willingly submit. If 
the documents which are furnished in confirmation of 
the statement are allowed to have validity, it is presu- 
med the facts will be easily discovered ; and that no 
combined exertions can destroy their force. These 
may cause very different impressions to be entertained 
of men and measures, from those which a combination 
have laboured to produce. 

I am well aware that it will be deemed unpopular, 
and probably by some iniquitous, to attempt to expose 
the turpitude of members belonging to a body which 
has been highly esteemed for talents and virtue ; or to 
call in question any acts or decisions of an association, 
Yet the cause of truth ought not to be relinquished 
because there are formidable obstacles to encounter. 
Truth will maintain its ascendancy, and surmount all 
opposition* 



IV 

It will, no 3oubt, be considered presumptuous fou 
an individual, who is bleeding under the cruel censure 
of a combination, to attempt to encounter a great and 
powerful body, with the least prospect of retrieving his 
injured rights. But a sling and a stone in the hand of 
David, in a righteous cause, proved more effectual than 
the whole armour of Goliath. Should it hp urged that 
too great plainnpcc io lutiuaucecr, I would reply, that 
flagrant acts, by whomsoever committed, are not com- 
monly delineated in feeble and unmeaning language j 
nor would it be correspondent with the nature of the 
facts disclosed. 

In the delineation, it has been necessary to embrace 
many connecting circumstances, which have greatly 
protracted the work, but without which, so clear a 
view of the subject could not be obtained. 

To the candid and dispassionate I cheerfully sub- 
mit it. 

Hudson, January 21st, 1819. 



ERRATA. 

Page 13, line 12 from bottom, read even for < ever*— p. 27, !. 
20, 18 for * 13'— p. 53. J. 12, on for * in'— p. 81. 1. 6, menial for 
* memorial* — p. 82, 1. 10 from bottom, inference for* influence 5 
—p. 112, 1. 20, on for * at*— p. 120, 1. 6 from bottom, Greenville 
for 'Greenwich' — p. 127, 1. 8 from bottom, surpassing for * sur- 
prising'— p. 147, dele ' ?*— p. 172, 1. 10 from bottom, vsere for 
4 W as'— 1. 2 from bottom, crimes for * claims'— -p. 175, 1 20, ex- 
citing for « exerting'— p. 202, -1. 1, from for « of *— p. 209, 1. 2, 
solicitude for * testimony* — p. 287,1. 19, security for « serenity** 

Other errors may possibly have escaped notice. 



PROSCRIPTION 

DELINEATED, &c. 

SECTION L 

IN the month of November, 1801, I commenced 
preaching in Sharon, Ellsworth society, Connec- 
ticut, having been previously engaged by its com- 
mittee to supply, for a very, short period, the desk 
in that place. This society was formed chiefly 
from the town of Sharon, but embraced also a small 
section from the town of Kent. These sections 
composed the limits of the society. The inhabi- 
tants, as I was then informed, had been occasionally 
engaged, for more than forty years, in endeavours 
to establish a society ; and had the preceding year 
so far accomplished their designs, as to obtain a lo- 
cation from the legislature of the state. Previously 
to my arrival, I had engaged to supply them but one 
Sabbath; but by reason of their subsequent press- 
ing solicitations, I consented to tarry with them 
four. During this period, a meeting of the society 
was called, and as I was soon after informed by a 
committee appointed for that purpose, there was a 
unanimous request that I should settle with them in 
the work of the gospel ministry. I immediately re- 
flected that the society was new, small, and compo- 
sed of broken materials, with discordant feelings 
among themselves, and having no church formed; 
and hence I concluded, from these circumstances 
and its local situation, that its duration as such would 
in all probability be short. J therefore immediately 



informed the committee that I could not listen to 
their request, and must give them a negative answer. 
They earnestly entreated me not to give them a 
negative at that time, even if I should in future. 
They informed me, that their efforts had been long 
and arduous to obtain society privileges ; that they 
had employed several preachers to officiate among 
them, on whom they could not be agreed ; that they 
were now unanimous and harmonious ; and should I 
give them a denial, they in all probability would 
sink under the weight of their trials, and thus relin- 
quish the hope of society privileges, as utterly un- 
attainable by further efforts. By reason of these 
suggestions, and a desire on my part that they 
might, as a parish, be stimulated to continued exer- 
tions to procure a settlement of the gospel ministry 
among them, and consequently share in the rich 
blessings of their anticipated privileges, I consented 
to defer my answer to the committee until a future 
time. Yet it is but justice to remark, that it was 
my great object to become liberated from their re- 
quest, without weakening or destroying their future 
efforts to secure a preached gospel among them. 
Thus during the period of several months, I used 
every exertion to procure a release from their re- 
quest, and still leave them harmonious and vigorous 
to procure the settlement of some other candidate 
among them. But the greater my efforts and the 
more I discovered of their real situation, the more 
difficult I found it to leave them, without wholly 
dispiriting them, and thus rendering them speedily 
extinct as a parish. In this situation, the great 
question in my own mind was, whether I should en- 
counter the obvious difficulties which must be ardu- 
ous and trying, if not insurmountable, by settling 
among them ; or whether I should leave them 
•weakened and disheartened by their unavailing ef- 
forts, probably to be scattered and lost as a society, 
by my accepting of some other call in another place, 
under all circumstances, far more eligible. After 



much painful deliberation, I discovered an unwil- 
lingness on my part to see a society rendered ex- 
tinct, which, in all human probability depended 
upon my affirmative, or negative answer. In this 
situation, wholly regardless of my own peace and 
comfort, I yielded to their request, and accepted of 
their call. But previously to my offering myself 
for examination, which was rendered necessary in 
order to give them an affirmative answer, I was 
pressingly called upon to accept of another invita- 
tion for settlement, in a place where such forbidding 
obstacles did not obtrude. The reflection that Ells- 
Avorth society must shortly cease to exist, should I 
accept the invitation, influenced me to reject all 
other calls. 

About this time a church was organized in Ells- 
worth which was composed of 28 members. The 
salary which was proposed for my support was 
eighty-five pounds. It was the understanding also, 
that they w r ere to furnish me with wood for twelve 
years, should I still continue their pastor ; at the 
expiration of w T hich time they were to give me a 
wood lot of twenty acres, within a given distance of 
the meeting-house, but were no longer to be holden 
to draw my wood. They were, furthermore, to 
give me a settlement of six hundred dollars ; three 
hundred of which were to become mine on the day 
of my ordination ; and the remaining three hundred, 
of which I was to receive the use, to become mine 
after the rate of twenty-five dollars a year : But 
should I not continue with them in the ministry for 
the period of twelve years, I w T as to refund, of the 
last sum of three hundred dollars, in the proportion 
of twenty-five dollars a year, for the deficiency of 
time, to complete the twelve years. Such w r as the 
understanding of the proposals made to me. These 
proposals, I remarked to their committee, would not 
be adequate to the support of my family, and would 
by no means render a comfortable subsistence ; 
" that the labourer was worthy of his hire,' 5 and 



a 



3 

i ( that those who preached the gospel, should live 
of the gospel ;" that a clergyman was justly entitled 
to a decent and honourable maintenance ; that hav- 
ing no patrimony, and being obliged to educate 
myself, in part, I should be wholly dependent on my 
salary for a support. They urged that their socie- 
ty was small and poor ; and that it would be seem- 
ingly impossible to increase the sum proposed, 
which would even then be burdensome for them to 
discharge ; and advocated the idea^ frequently ad- 
vanced by those who had never estimated the ex- 
pense of supporting a family by the purchase of 
every article of consumption and use, viz. that two 
hundred and fifty or three hundred dollars a year, 
would decently support a family, with the probable 
saving of half or more of the same. 

I had, previously to this, suggested to the society 
the necessity of their establishing a fund, to operate 
as a bond of union among them, and contribute to 
render the society permanent; the annual interest 
of which was to be appropriated to the support of 
preaching in the parish. Accordingly a fund of one 
thousand pounds had been raised by subscription, 
the annual interest of which would be two hundred 
dollars. As it was contemplated this interest would 
be promptly paid at the close of each year, and thus 
applied in part pay of my salary, it would, of 
course, be better than two hundred dollars raised by 
tax, which usually lingers in the collection, if it does 
not prove wholly evanescent. I finally acceded to 
the proposals on these conditions, viz. I would make 
the trial; and if it should furnish a support for my 
family, w T ell ; if not, they must either add to it, or 
grant me a dismission. I was accordingly ordain- 
ed over the church and society of Ellsworth, on the 
fc 26th of May, 1802, by the North Consociation of 
Litchfield county ; and the church over which I 
had now the pastoral charge, was at the same time 
consociated. 

Being now inducted into the ministry, with an 
amazingly weighty and responsible charge resting 



9 

upon me, I entered upon its arduous duties with 
fear and trembling. The difficulties peculiar to a 
newly organized church and society, were to be en- 
countered. These w r ere greatly enhanced by the 
defection and dissention of many who lived within 
the local bounds of the society. For a number of 
years previous to the location of the society, preach- 
ers of almost every description had visited that re- 
gion of territory : consequently but very few indi- 
viduals appeared to possess any just and. accurate 
ideas of the doctrines of the gospeh Added to this, 
great numbers had certificated themselves as belong- 
ing to other denominations ; some, as was generally 
considered, to avoid expenses unavoidably incident 
to the support of regular society ; and also to pre- 
vent the obtaining of it ; and others, unquestionably, 
in a conscientious manner. Thus, from many of 
those " who were not of us," although they lived 
among us, we experienced many and severe trials. 
Although there was no stated preaching among 
these different denominations, to my knowledge, for 
some length of time, from my first acquaintance in 
the place, yet many of them appeared to be unwil- 
ling that the society should enjoy the regular and 
stated privileges of the gospel. By numbers, a hos- 
tility to the church and society was marked w T ith a 
virulence distinguishingly characteristic of native 
depravity. The society itself, also, being compo- 
sed of sections from two towns, discovered in some 
degree a competition. These various considera- 
tions rendered it difficult to organize and harmonize 
conflicting parties and interests* Yet as the socie« 
ty progressed in age, it apparently gained strength 
and union. The distinguishing doctrines of the 
gospel were willingly heard and received, by the 
generality of those who statedly attended on public 
worship. 

My ministerial labours were not, however, confin- 
ed to the limits of my own parish. In addition to 
my parochial duties, I 'was, for some length of time 

2# 



10 

after my ordination, called upon io supply, to a con- 
siderable extent, two neighbouring parishes. The 
old society in the town of Sharon, which had been 
supplied nearly half a century by the Rev. and pious 
Cotton M. Smith, was now for the most part desti- 
tute of a preached gospel, by reason of his infirmi- 
ties of age. Also, the south society in Cornwall 
was then vacant. Situated between these two con- 
gregations, which were only occasionally supplied 
by candidates, I was very frequently called upon 
to afford them assistance. Often, for many weeks 
in succession, after delivering two discourses on the 
Sabbath in my own desk, I have immediately gone 
to one or the other of these destitute parishes, and 
delivered to them one and sometimes two discourses 
on the same day, and returned home in the even- 
ing. Also in cases of severe sickness in either 
place, I was often called to visit them, and likewise 
to officiate at their funerals, and occasional lectures. 
Nor is a solitary instance of refusal, to either of their 
calls, within my recollection. During this period, 
my itinerations in other places were, probably, as 
extensive as those of any other local preacher with- 
in the vicinity. Frequently was I reminded, by my 
fathers and brethren in the ministry, that 1 must 
forbear my labours, as my constitution could not sus- 
tain so much fatigue, and I should soon sink under 
the burden. 

In the mean time, my domestic concerns engross- 
ed much of my care and labour. About the time 
of my settlement 1 had purchased a small place for 
my residence, wholly out of repairs, and unfit for 
occupancy. Weil aware my salary was incompe- 
tent to the support of my family and defraying any 
expenses in repairs, I laboured extensively with my 
own hands to render it comfortable. Consequently, 
after the labours and fatigues of the day, I was 
obliged to devote a very considerable proportion of 
the night to study. Often did I find not more than 
two or three hour's for repose. As an additional 



11 

task, I was very shortly after my settlement, re- 
quested to take the charge and instruction of youth, 
in preparation for college, and in pursuing various 
branches of literature. Thus I was encumbered 
with the care of a few pupils, the compensation for 
which was by no means proportionate to the bur- 
den. 

About three and a half years had now elapsed,, 
when it pleased a merciful God to visit the place 
with the effusions of his Holy Spirit. The work 
began to manifest itself powerfully, in the month of 
November, 1805, and progressed during the follow- 
ing winter ; and traces of ft continued even until the 
ensuing summer. This shower of divine grace 
spread over a great part of the parish. Its effects 
were apparently deep and pungent. It was evident- 
ly the still small voice, which caused multitudes to 
exclaim with deep solicitude, "what shall we do to 
be saved?" This work was not generally accom- 
panied with noise, or confusion ; but the subjects of 
it seemed deeply to feel and realize their wretched 
and ruined condition as sinners. The involuntary 
sigh, the deeply depicted anguish, and the anxious 
look, visibly expressed more than volumes could 
describe. People of all ages and denominations, so 
far as the work had apparently extended, seemed 
more or less to share in the general solicitude and 
solemnity. As there had not, for a long period of 
time, been any stated preaching by any other deno- 
mination, all classes resorted to the meetings of my 
appointment. Indeed, the certificated people stre- 
nuously solicited my attendance with them in pro- 
portion to their numbers with the people of the so- 
ciety. I had gratified their request for several 
weeks, when the attention being noised abroad, a 
Baptist, and, soon after, Methodist preachers flock- 
ed around us. A line was almost instantaneously 
drawn. Every certificated person immediately re- 
sorted to Baptist or Methodist meetings, as "they 



!2 

happened to be supplied with either order of preach- 
ers. 

And here, duty may render it proper to remark, 
that this occurrence seemingly gave a check to the 
progress of the work for a time ; and instead of the 
pleasing prospect of the union of these nominally 
different sectaries with the society, to any considera- 
ble extent, a formidable line of perpetual separation 
was evidently established. This consideration, in 
connexion with some irregularities among these dif- 
ferent denominations, prevented me from giving a 
narrative of the revival to the public at that time, as 
had been usual on similar occasions. 

My time, after this occurrence, was wholly devo- 
ted to the care and instruction of the people of my 
charge. And probably from November to March 
or April following, there was scarcely an evening, 
a few Saturday evenings excepted, in which I did 
not attend stated meetings in the different parts of 
my parish. During this revival, there were at that 
time from fifty to sixty persons who were, in the 
view of charity, savingly interested in this gracious 
visitation. Thus the Lord had done great things 
for us, whereof we had the utmost reason to rejoice. 
Christians were refreshed and comforted ; acces- 
sions were made to the church, and the society had 
become considerably strengthened. 

During the summer and autumn of 1806, the 
meeting-house in Ellsworth, which had before been 
only inclosed, was now completed. This render- 
ed public speaking far less fatiguing. Previous to 
this, I had sustained much injury to my lungs and 
voice, by speaking in an open house. Thus the as- 
pect of things, in relation to the church and society, 
had assumed an almost entire change, contrasted 
with their situati@n four or five years preceding. 

Early in the year 1807, I had found it necessary 
to adopt some different measures, in relation to ob- 
taining a support for my family. I had ascertained 



13 

by experiment, for two or three years previous? 
what I had at first anticipated, that my stipulated 
salary was far from being adequate to my support. 
Frequently I had reminded the society's commit- 
tee, that it would be necessary to make an addition 
to my support, or liberate me from my charge. 
They urged in reply, that the situation of the pa- 
rish would not admit of increasing my salary ; and 
for me to leave them would destroy it. In the 
spring of the year 1805, the only merchant in the 
place, and one of the props of the society, informed 
me he was about to remove from among us, for the 
want of a more extensive capital to carry on his 
trade. When I remonstrated against it, that it 
would greatly weaken and injure the society, and 
therefore I could by no means become reconciled to 
it ; he replied, if I would assist him to a certain sum 
of additional stock, he would cheerfully continue 
his business, and I should share an equal propor- 
tion of the gain or loss, as the business should result. 
After consulting with a number of my friends, both 
of the clergy and laity, each of whom advised to the 
plan ; and the sum of money necessary to a compli- 
ance being offered me in loan, by a friend, for a term 
of years, at six per cent, I finally acceded to the 
proposal, and vested the stock in trade. In the 
transactions of the business of this concern I had 
nothing to do ; nor was my name ever known in the 
firm for some length of time. The concern was 
managed exclusively by the active partner. For 
two or three years the business succeeded as well 
as could have been expected. Yet the little profit 
derived from this source, did not supply the defi- 
ciency of my salary. Hence other measures must 
be adopted, to afford a maintenance. 

About that time, I had received repeated appli- 
cations, to leave my people and settle in other places^ 
where they proposed a very ample support. But 
as an acceptance would still, in all probability, hare 



~ 14 

proved the ruin of Ellsworth society, I refused a 
compliance. 

In the spring of 1807, when it was generally known 
in the place that something must be done, without 
which I must leave them, it was proposed and urg- 
ed, that I should engage more extensively in the 
concerns of a school ; and in this manner, by my 
extra labours, derive a support. To this sugges- 
tion I urged the impropriety of assuming this addi- 
tional burden, to the exclusion of my pastoral du- 
ties, and the deprivation of my own personal im- 
provement in study : that it was then the only proper 
time, life and health permitting, to lay up stores of 
mental improvement, in vacant hours, if such could 
be found ; and that it w r ou3d be unreasonable for me 
to impose this task on myself, which at most must 
be wholly a gratuity to the society, and exclusively 
for their benefit, when I might on any day, would I 
give my consent, accept of a generous support in 
several other places for my ministerial labours only. 
But these considerations were unavailing. It was 
agreed by the church and society, that they would 
dispense with my visitations, occasional lectures and 
other weekly meetings, except in cases of sickness, 
or on some special emergency, if I would consent to 
engage in a school. In the mean time, my fathers 
and brethren in the ministry pressed my continu- 
ance with my people ; and knowing the circum- 
stances of the parish, and the incompetency of my 
support, unanimously requested me to institute a 
school. Thus I was over persuaded to listen to this 
expedient ; and, to enter upon which, it was neces- 
sary for me to expend several hundred dollars to 
erect a building, and furnish it with appurtenances, 
suitable for the convenience and accommodation of 
such an establishment. 

I accordingly commenced the collection of some 
materials for a building, and had engaged workmen 
to put it up. My residence was one mile and a 



15 

quarter from my meeting-house ; and a very con- 
siderable proportion of the people oF the parish 
strongly solicited me to remove into the centre of 
the parish, and have my school-building erected 
there. Indeed, much feeling was excited on this 
subject. The generality of the people eventually 
proclaimed, that unless the school should be estab- 
lished in the meeting-house village, they would not 
consent to have me engage in it. Some of my neigh- 
bours averred, if I should remove into that village 
they would abandon me and the society. During 
this altercation, a large number of the inhabitants 
had negociated with a person who lived in the cen- 
ter village, to exchange his place for mine ; they 
taking the whole burden and risque on themselves, 
so that I should have need to do nothing more than 
remove ; and had even fixed on tbe time of remo- 
val ; and had furthermore engaged to erect a school- 
building for me, free of any charge to myself. To 
this negociation I had also acceded. But, on a sud- 
den, this plan was frustrated by a defection on the 
part of the person who was to come into the occu- 
pancy of my place. This event threatened imme- 
diate ruin to the society. Not to remove to the 
center would produce general discontent; and no 
place could there be obtained : and to erect the 
building near my own dwelling would gratify merely 
my immediate neighbours. Hence, to sit still, I 
aiust perish, and to go forward was impracticable. 
A dissolution of our connexion appeared to be the 
only alternative. Thus I resolved, as soon as the 
busy season of the summer was over, to convene a 
council and obtain a dismission. Accordingly, 
when that period had arrived, I made known my 
intentions to the people. An alarm was immedi- 
ately produced. Great efforts were now made to 
divert me from my intentions ; and all cheerfully 
expressed a willingness, would I tarry, that a build- 
ing should be erected where I should choose. As 
the place could not be obtained in the center vil* 



16 

lage, there was an entire acquiescence that the 
building should be established near my own dwell- 
ing. A number of individuals even came forward, 
and pledged themselves, verbally, that if I would 
consent to have the building put up, and would fur- 
Jiish what materials I had already collected, and 
also board the workmen, they would supply the re- 
sidue at their own expense, and defray the charges 
of the workmen. As much solicitude was excited, 
I waited a time for deliberation. In this period of 
time, I improved an opportunity of conferring with 
some of the principal inhabitants in Sharon town. 
Formerly a flourishing Academy had been estab- 
lished in the old village, but it was now in ruins, ex- 
cept the building. My first object was to ascer- 
tain, whether they contemplated to attempt a revi- 
Tal of their institution ; if so, I would use no further 
efforts in respect to the establishment of a school. 
After receiving assurances from very many of the 
most influential men, that nothing should be done 
15 revive their old institution ; that they had alrea- 
dy made a number of unavailing efforts to accom- 
plish that object, and that such a thing was evident- 
ly impracticable; they gave me their pledges, 
would I establish a school, that their children should 
be placed under my instruction ; that they would 
render me all the patronage in their power, and no- 
thing more should be attempted with their decayed 
institution while I should continue my school. I 
then called on their clergyman, who had recently 
been settled among them, viz. David L. Perry, he 
having lately left the tutorship in William's College, 
to ascertain from him whether he contemplated to 
take students to instruct. I informed him that my 
continuance in Ellsworth now principally depended 
on that point ; and if he designed to take students, 
I should abandon all further efforts to set up a 
school; should immediately take a dismission from 
my people, and settle in some other place, where I 
might receive an ample support, without this addi- 



17 

tional burden. Mr. Perry strongly urged my con? 
tinuance with my people ; and observed, should I 
leave them, they would no doubt be scattered and 
lost as a society; that a very serious injury would 
result to the town ; and that it would necessarily 
impose on him an additional task. He very strenu- 
ously recommended my engaging in a school, and I 
think I cannot labour under a mistake in repeating 
the following as nearly, if not entirely, his language 
to me on that occasion. Indeed, I received the im- 
pressions which the language naturally implies, and 
they have ever remained permanent in my mind, 
as my object was at that time to know on what I 
might rely, and it was in answer to my express in- 
quiries : 

" Brother Parker, I did not settle in Sharon ta 
teach school. I shall have no concern with a school 
in any manner here, further than to visit the dis- 
trict schools ; and that I shall calculate to do, whe- 
ther I am appointed a school visitor or not. * You 
may rest assured I shall not lake any scholars to 
prepare for college ; nor shall I have any concern 
with an academy here. I wish you by all means 
to institute a school, and I will render you all the 
patronage I am able. If they do not support me in 
Sharon, as a minister of the gospel, I will go where 
they will." 

The result of this visit to town was the turning 
hinge in respect to my continuance in Ellsworth* 
With the pledges and assurances rendered, in con- 
nexion with the hopeful prospect of preserving the 
church and society under my care from being ren- 
dered extinct, I was induced to comply with the 
proposal already made me, of erecting a school- 
house agreeably to the last propositions made to 
rue ; and accordingly I made known to those indi- 
viduals my compliance. They requested that the 
work might be immediately entered upon, and that 
I would call on them for whatever was necessary to, 
the fulfilment of their engagements. 

3 



IB 

It was late in the fall when the building was en- 
tered upon ; hut it was completed in the beginning 
of December following. Often did I call upon those 
individuals, for their promised aid; and, with the 
exception of probably two or three days' labour in 
the whole, I did not, to my recollection, receive the 
value of one shilling, either in materials for the 
building, or to pay the labourers. After I had paid 
every expense which had accrued, the amount of 
which was from five to six hundred dollars, one in- 
dividual advanced one hundred dollars on stipulated 
conditions. The residue has ever remained it statu 
quo. 

The building being now completed, I commenced 
my school in it about the middle of December*. 
180?. The number of students soon increased be- 
yond what I had ever anticipated. After the first 
term, the number was so great as to render it neces- 
sary to employ two assistants ; very soon three ; 
and, eventually, four. In the progress of the school, 
it became necessary to enlarge my dwelling-house 
for the accommodation of boarders. This I accom- 
plished within the period of less than two years; 
having already expended, to accommodate my 
srchool, from 2500 to 3000 dollars. 

In the month of May, 1809, if I mistake not, I 
w T as informed Mr. Perry had engaged an instruct- 
ress, for the purpose of opening a female school in 
the old academic building in Sharon town ; which 
school, it was stated, was to be considered as his 
own. Unwilling to believe it could be a fact, in fuJi 
recollection of his former pledges to me, as I had uni- 
formly been impressed, I soon called on him to as- 
certain the truth. He acknowledged it was true, 
and that the school would soon commence ! I in- 
quired how it was possible* in consistency with the 
assurances he had made to me? He cheerfully ac- 
knowledged, unless my memory is insensibly treach- 
erous, his engagements to me in the autumn of 1807 ; 
but observed, he was about to do this for my bene- 



19 

fit. He remarked, it was very improper for male 
and female students to assemble under the same roof 
for instruction; that he contemplated to take all the 
females, and leave the males to my charge. I re- 
minded him, that my male and female pupils were 
in separate apartments ; that the females were un- 
der the immediate care of an able instructress ; and 
that the different schools were not together at any 
time, except for prayers, at the daily opening and 
closing of the school. I repeated to him, that I had 
already expended a large sum of money to accom- 
modate the school, and that by reason of his engage- 
ments and solicitations, as I had ever entertained 
the idea ; that his procedure would necessarily de- 
prive me both of my right and my property; and 
that it would have been far better for me not to have 
undertaken a school and incurred this vast expense, 
than thus to submit to the institution of a rival 
school, from one in whom I had placed confidence 
as a patron. These suggestions were of no avail. 
He persisted in his sophistical argument, as a justi- 
fication of his going counter to his former assurances 
to me. This statement is strictly correct, unless I 
have strangely forgotten. I was truly surprised! 
Nevertheless, he proceeded with his school ! 

At the close of his first quarter I went into town, 
with one of my neighbours, to converse with Mr* 
Perry, on the subject of his speedily instituting a 
male school, under the same roof with his female 
school, as common report had for a short time re- 
presented. It seemed, by report, an arrangement 
had already been planned for this purpose ; and 
that he should be unknown to me, as having any 
concern with a male school. It was represented, 
that it was to be conducted in the name of a young 
gentleman, who had been selected as the immediate 
instructor, and who had also been an assistant in my 
school the preceding winter. This plan, I consider- 
ed, if true, was artfully laid to rob me of the male, 
as the former was of the female scholars. On my 



20 

airyral in town, I found a number of people assem-v 
bled to attend an examination of the school, at the 
close of which I took an opportunity of conversing 
with Mr. Perry, in the presence of a number of gen- 
tlemen, relative to his instituting a male school. It 
appeared that the subject was in agitation, if not 
already organized. I remarked, that this was what 
I did not expect ; that I had considered Mr. Perry 
holden to me, by promises, to have no concern with 
a school in any form ; and that I had considered 
him to acknowledge this promise, only about three 
months before, when establishing his female school ; 
and that his plea for not regarding it then was, that 
schools for both sexes ought not to be under the 
same roof; but now, it seemed, the time had arrived 
when they might properly be united in the old aca- 
demic building in Sharon. And, furthermore, I had 
considered the people in Sharon street as having 
generally placed themselves under obligations to 
me, not to attempt to revive the^r school ; but would 
lens! me their assistance and patronage, if I would 
embark in a school and not leave my people. 
Judge of my surprise, when Mr. Perry immediately 
replied, he had never made any engagements to me 
on that subject, and had never acknowledged any 
to me the preceding spring! I then pointed out 
the very spot of ground w 7 here we were when I had 
the conversation with him in the fall of 1807, at 
which time I derived from him the idea of an en- 
gagement ; also the room in which we were sitting, 
the May preceding, when I understood him fully to 
acknowledge an engagement. I observed to him, 
it was true, no other person was present at either 
conversation. But he persevered in the denial of 
both, and has continued to do the same ever since, 
so far as I have known. 

It is indeed strange, I could have so grossly mis- 
apprehended him in both conversations, and espe- 
cially in the first, when my conclusions, to continue 
with or leave my people, were dependant upon it ! 



21 

Mr. Perry furthermore added, to my inquiries at 
this time, that he had had nothing to do with the 
establishment of a male school, which had there re- 
cently been projected ! At this I was much asto- 
nished, having been repeatedly informed he was to 
be the principal in the school ! The gentlemen 
present, as I then understood, advised and agreed 
they would give up all further efforts to set up the 
school, as it appeared there were obligations to me 
which, perhaps, some were not aware of, for my 
exertions and expenses, in establishing my school. 

The next day, or perhaps the second following, 
I was in town, and informed by the young gentle- 
man who had been solicited to instruct the proposed 
school, that Mr. Perry had called on him, on the 
morning after my late conversation at the Academy, 
and strenuously urged him to go into the school ; 
and that if he would not go in, a teacher should be 
procured, whatever the expense should be to ac- 
complish it. This young gentleman also mention- 
ed to me, at the same time, that Mr. Perry had 
urged him to advertise the school, and endeavoured 
to persuade him it was his duty, in order to obtain 
pupils. I immediately went to the house of Mr. 
Perry, and informed him of what I had heard. I 
think I do not labour under any mistake when I 
say, he denied the whole ! His declarations, if I 
rightly remember, w T ere totally the reverse on the 
subject of advertising, and also on several other 
points. I found there was an entire clashing in the 
stories of this young gentleman, many of which 
were confirmed by some of the family to w r hich he 
belonged, with many of Mr. Perry's declarations. 

As it seemed there was a determination, at any 
rate, to set up the proposed school, I very soon 
forbore to say much, if any thing more, on the sub- 
ject to Mr. Perry, as it appeared to me to be treated 
evasively. Suffice it to say, the school commenced 
immediately. With the difficulties which arose 
among themselves afterwards, I have no concern* 

• 3* 



22' 

I can only say, I sincerely regretted the very abu- 
sive treatment, as I conceive, which the teacher ex- 
perienced, as I afterwards learned, in consequenee 
of having been ensnared to engage in that school, 
to which for a long time he manifested much reluc- 
tance, and which he seemed desirous to avoid. 
The schools, however, were not of long continu- 
ance. But here I ought to remark, that gome in- 
stances occurred in which students, who were sent 
from home with express directions to come on to 
my school in Ellsworth, were stopped in Sharon 
street, and OAerpersuaded to tarry there. And 
many efforts were also made to gain other students. 
It may with propriety be said, that most if not all 
the members of these schools in town, in reality 
were and ought to have been my pupils, from what 
I ever deemed previous assurances made me. I 
would further add, that after the male school estab- 
lished there for a time, had ceased, Mr. Perry was 
pleased to open another near his own dwelling, of 
somewhat ludicrous memory, in which he received 
students, and continued the same until about the 
time of the close of my school in Ellsworth, in 
1816. 

While my rights were thus assailed by the estab- 
lishment in town, my school still gradually increas- 
ed in numbers. It was often composed of members 
resident in various places, from Baltimore to Ver- 
mont, and from Rhode-Island to Buffalo. The 
annual catalogue of my school^ for several of the 
last years, contained from 200 to 250 names. As 
the institution flourished,! had also increased my ex- 
penses for its accommodation. Having long enter- 
tained the impression, that the usual mode of instruc- 
tion, pursued in academic institutions, was too su- 
perficial for the benefit of pupils, I spared no pains 
or charges to obviate this impropriety. I therefore 
increased the number of teachers, in order that 
every lesson might be thoroughly heard. I consult- 
ed the benefit and improvement of the youth, in the 



23 

system I had adopted, and directed my efforts to its 
accomplishment. Nor have I ever reflected on 
my exertions, in that respect, as unsuitable. 

31y task was now rendered truly arduous. The 
stated supply of my desk, together with the dis- 
charge of the other parochial duties, which necessa- 
rily devolved upon me ; an attendance in my school 
from six to nine hours in a day, and providing for 
my family, which consisted usually of from thirty 
to seventy or eighty members, rendered my cares 
and fatigues truly great. Yet, even these were but 
a part of my burdens. The restrictive system, 
which our general government saw fi( to adopt, 
commenced soon after my school was organized; 
This very sensibly affected the store, in which I 
had an interest, and produced an extensive loss on 
many articles of produce then on hand. It severe- 
ly affected also many individuals in that section of 
country, and placed them under great pecuniary 
embarrassments. It producd many applications to 
me for aid, as very many indulged the idea that my 
numerous school must bring in a flood of money ; 
and not reflecting that I had been, and even then 
was, at great expense to furnish it, they seemed to 
imagine I could, without inconvenience, advance 
any sums of money at any call to relieve the dis- 
tressed. My replies to such pressing applicants, 
that my disbursements had been immense, and that 
I was unable to gather collections sufficient to meet 
the necessary exigences of my own concerns, would 
not suffice. They would still strenuously impor- 
tune : their property, perhaps, was advertised for 
sale by an officer, which would soon take place, at 
an immense sacrifice ; and if they could meet the 
claim by a loan, it would enable them to have time 
to dispose of their property to advantage, and save 
them and their families from distress and ruin. Oj^ 
perhaps, they had a payment to meet at the bank, 
which must be discharged at a given time, and dis- 
appointments had overtaken them ; without a Ioan> 



24 

therefore, for a short time, their credit would be 
sacrificed, and they thus injured or ruined ; or some 
other pressing plea. When I informed such, I had 
not the funds on hand, and could not consistently 
afford them relief; the very uniform reply to me 
was, " you can easily procure it almost any hour, 
and it shall be promptly returned whenever you 
must replace it ;" or perhaps within a given num- 
ber of days. Such urgent entreaties, by persons in 
real distress, with positive assurances of punctual 
remittances, my stock of liberality would not allow 
me to resist. And when confidently assured I 
should sustain no material injury in extending the 
arm of relief, I should have deemed myself highly 
criminal had I refused. Under such circumstances, 
and believing mankind to be possessed of a greater 
share of real integrity, than a more extensive ac- 
quaintance with men and things will justify, I yield- 
ed to their solicitations. 

Almost all sums, from a few dollars, to a thou- 
sand, or thousands, were at different times furnish- 
ed, in compliance with such requests. These 
loans I obtained for their benefit, at different rates, 
from 6 to 25, or 30 per cent. Yet whenever I was 
so fortunate as to have these loans duly returned, 
or even afterwards replaced, I never received, to 
my recollection, over six per cent, on the loan ; and 
never at any time do I remember to have received 
one penny for my trouble and expense. But it 
must be observed, that a very great proportion of 
these advances, were never returned. Many were 
eventually wholly lost. In some instances, real es- 
tate came into my hands as security ; but in no in- 
stance equal in value to the money advanced. 
Thus I was compelled to replace the loans I had 
obtained for the relief of the distressed, out of my 
own funds, and encumbered with, to me, a useless 
quantity of real estate, which greatly multiplied my 
cares and burdens. Of property of this description, 
if I rightly remember, I had received within the pe- 



25 

j iod of about three years before I obtained a dismis- 
sion from my people, to the value of about five 
thousand dollars. Such were the fruits and effects 
of the exercise of benevolence, to those in distress, 
who had made solemn assurances to me, that I 
should sustain no injury or trouble by granting their 
requests. 

In the mean time, there was a great deficiency 
in the payment of my salary. The annual interest 
of the fund of two hundred dollars, which it had 
been contemplated would be promptly paid on the 
1st of June, yearly, was greatly neglected. I am 
very confident, there was no instance, while I resi- 
ded in Ellsworth, of my receiving in cash, on what 
is called the fund day, over thirty dollars, and usu- 
ally not over twenty. I often times gave receipts 
to individuals for their fund interest, gratuitously, 
in consequence of theif pleading their inability to 
pay it. I also frequently gave receipts to others, 
at their request, to receive something at a future 
day from them, which was often more to my injury, 
than to have given a discharge at first. Thus ve- 
ry little was accomplished to any real benefit, from 
the operation of the fund. The complement of be- 
tween 80 and 90 dollars, to make up my nominal 
salary, was usually attempted to be raised by sub- 
scription. To accomplish this successfully, it was 
common to call on me to subscribe first ; and if my 
subscription was liberal, possibly the residue was 
supplied on paper. In this manner, with an almost 
entire neglect to furnish my 'wood, did the years 
pass away. For several years previous to my dis- 
mission, I very often made the proposal to indi- 
viduals, and urged their acceptance of it, that if 
they would give me only one hundred dollars in 
cash, at one time, they should be entitled to all the 
avails of my salary for a year. I could find no one 
to accede to this. I well recollect a time, when 
by losses sustained, the fund was not full ; and 
therefore by the constitution, until the deficiency 



■A] 



/ 



26 

was supplied, the interest could not be legally col- 
lected on anj part of it ; and even the fund com- 
mittee refused to enter upon the duties of their ap- 
pointment, until the deficiency was supplied ; at 
that time I stepped forward and supplied the defi- 
ciency at my own expense, in order to render the 
fund still obligatory. It is very obvious, that there 
is a wide distinction between a parish, or town, 
supporting an individual, or an individual sup- 
porting a parish, or town. I shall, however, only 
repeat a vsry common observation, when I say, the 
latter was pronounced to be particularly applicable 
to my case. It is still fresh in the recollection of 
vast numbers, that for some length of time, while 
clergyman in the parish, and sole proprietor and 
manager of an extensive literary institution, I was 
at the same time, seemingly necessitated to become 
cashier for very many ; and often their accountant, 
counsellor, arbitrator, benefactor, and peace maker. 
If a person needed assistance, of almost any name, 
or kind, it is \v r ell known he was sure to call on me 
to supply his wants. Nor w r ere these acts of kind- 
ness limited by the lines of the parish, as great 
numbers will testify ; or even by the town or coun- 
ty. Some, who lived at the distance of more than 
two hundred miles, will, no doubt, acknowledge 
their obligations of gratitude for distinguished kind- 
nesses conferred. 

In the spring of 1812, I made application to my 
church and society for a dismission. The cares 
of my school, with the additional burdens which 
had grown out of it, especially by extending relief 
to the distressed, and their not fulfilling their en- 
gagements to me, had brought on a train of con- 
cerns, which necessarily occupied my whole time 
and attention. In this situation, I had no opportu- 
nity for study ; nor could I discharge my duty to 
myself, or my people. Hence to dismiss my 
school, would deprive me of a support, as my sala- 
ry was incompetent, and would also be a sacrifice 



r< 

of several thousand dollars expended in its estab- 
lishment, and still lead to the necessity of repeat- 
ing the same request. This method, therefore, 
seemed to be the only alternative. The church 
and society were unwilling to grant my request. 
We had ever lived in mutual peace and harmony ; 
and it was truly unpleasant, to be obliged to make 
this request. But duty appeared clearly to de- 
mand it. They immediately appointed their com- 
mittees, to confer with me, and to endeavour to de- 
vise some expedient which might render unneces- 
sary this event. No efforts were neglected, to se- 
cure my continuance with them. Yet all their pro- 
posals, could not remove the obstacles, which de- 
barred me from the opportunity of study. Thus, 
after six months, spent in fruitless efforts, to obvi- 
ate my request, the church and society reluctantly 
consented, as the only alternative, to the calling of 
a council for my dismission. This council assem- 
bled on the 13th of Nov. 1812, and was composed 
of the following members, viz. Rev. Messrs. Peter 
Starr, David L. Perry, Timothy Stone, Josiah 
Hawes and Joseph Harvey. The delegates were, 
deacons, Amos Fowler, Paul Smith, Josiah Hop- 
kins, Eliakim Mallery, Samuel Norton and Mylo 
Lee. The whole of the North Conscociation of 
Litchfield county had been notified to attend, but 
the rest failed of giving their attendance. Mr. 
Starr was chosen moderator, and Mr. Perry, 
scribe. 

My request for a dismission, with the reasons as- 
signed, together with the concurrent votes of the 
church and society were exhibited. It appeared, 
that there had been, and still was an entire friend- 
ship subsisting between myself, and the church and 
society ; and it was observed by some of the coun- 
cil, that as there appeared to be an entire harmony 
among us, it was not known how a dissolution of 
our connexion could be effected, unless there was 
some charge, or accusation exhibited, as a ground 



28 

on which to predicate a dismission. I was accord- 
ingly called upon to say, if I had not some charge 
which I could alledge against either the church or 
society. I informed them I had not ; that they ap- 
peared to me rather as members of my own family, 
than otherwise ; that it was with reluctance I had 
called for a dismission, but necessity impelled me 
to it. The committees of the church and society 
were then called upon, to say, whether they could 
not exhibit some charge, or accusation against me. 
They replied they had none. They stated the 
exertions they had made, to prevail on me to con- 
tinue with them ; and their earnest desire it should 
take place ; but finding no way to effect it, they 
were reluctantly obliged to consent to my request, 
as nothing short would relieve my feelings. After 
the council had deliberated by themselves a short 
time, I was called upon again, and again, by them, 
and the committees as often, and the enquiry press- 
ed, whether we could not criminate each other. 
My astonishment was indeed excited, at this pro- 
cedure ; yet we had no criminations with which to 
gratify their manifestly eager desire. After a time 
I was called before the council, and it was signifi- 
ed to me, that I was highly criminal for being plun- 
ged into the cares of the world. I inquired what 
it meant ! — I put the inquiries, whether they were 
not the very persons, who had advised, and urged 
me to set up a school ? Whether some of their 
number had not repeatedly applied to me for pe- 
cuniary assistance ? and whether some of them had 
not received from me, the aid they had requested? 
and whether others were disaffected, because I 
could not grant their urgent requests ? I enquired, 
whether it was criminal, to exercise benevolence, 
by rendering them assistance, when they urgently 
solicited it ? and whether, if it was right to gratify 
them in their requests, it would not be equally so 
to gratify the requests of others, who had made 
iheir applications with equal solicitude, and whose 



prospects of fulfilling their engagements, wefe 
equally as probable as in their own? And now be- 
cause a number had failed in the fulfillment of their 
promises ; when all the assistance rendered by me, 
was without fee, or reward, greatly to my own in- 
convenience, and solely for their benefit; and 
when, by their default, I was compelled to advance 
my own funds to supply the sums obtained for their 
relief; because I had been enabled in some instan- 
ces to obtain, as part security, real estate, by 
which means my cares and burdens were un- 
expectedly, and greatly increased ; I inquired, 
if these were any objects of my own seeking ? and 
could there be any propriety in saying it was crimi- 
nally plunging in the cares of the world ? If so, 
then their own accommodations, and requests had 
plunged me into this evil, for all these things, were 
intimately connected with, and had grown out of 
my establishment of a school in which they had ur- 
ged me to embark, I inquired, whether any other 
motive could be imputed to my efforts, but that of 
pure benevolence ? and whether a person was to 
be censured, in proportion to his excess in the ex- 
ercise of benevolence, towards his distressed fellow 
men ? But no — all was in vain. It was easy to 
discover who were active in this transaction. The 
council soon came to a result. And whatever 
stings their result may contain, I will cheerfully en- 
dure their smart, in preference to belonging to the 
number of those who devised the instrument of 
torture. 

I copy their result, as delivered to me by their 
register. 

" The conscociation^ having maturely consid- 
ered the reasons offered by Mr. Parker, for his dis- 
mission, and the concurrent votes of the church and 
society, do judge it expedient, that under existing 

*For consociation, I have generally substituted the word 
council, which is a term more commonly used when sit- 
ting as a court, 

4 



30 

circumstances, the pastoral relation between Mr 
Parker, and the church and society in Ellsworth, 
be dissolved; and the same is hereby dissolved," 

" At the same time, the consociation feel them- 
selves constrained to say, that they consider it ve- 
ry unhappy, and very imprudent, for a minister of 
the gospel, so to entangle himself in the cares of 
this world, as to incapacitate himself to attend to the 
duties of the ministry. And feel themselves una- 
ble to exonerate Mr. Parker from blame in this 
case, and think they cannot recommend him for re- 
settlement, in the work of the ministry, until he 
shall relinquish those cares, and worldly avoca- 
tions, which have hitherto disqualified him for 
the ministry, and give himself wholly to the work. 
But when Mr. Parker shall have relinquished those 
extra concerns, not attached to a school, which 
have hitherto impeded his usefulness, and do at 
this time render necessary his dismission, we can 
cheerfully recommend him as a very suitable per- 
son to be improved in the churches as a gospel 
minister. 

Passed in consociation, Nov. 19, 1812." 

« Test Peter Starr, Moderator. 
" David L. Perry, Scribe. 
4< A true copy of } 
record attest. 

Joseph Harvey, Register. 

Should we not have expected, that Christian 
meekness, would rather have influenced brethren, 
who had repeatedly called for worldly assistance, 
and even been favored with it, to have taken an ac- 
commodating brother by the hand, and have said 
to him, brother, you are entangling yourself with 
the cares of this world ; we fear you will bring re- 
proach upon the ministry by such procedure. We 
earnestly entreat you, therefore, to desist. Would 
not this method have partaken as much of the spi- 
rit of the gospel, as when knowing these entangle- 



31 

inents were enhanced, by affording this aid, they 
still neglected those frequent opportunities of pri- 
vate admonition, and without any previous charge, 
or suggestion of wrong, came forth and pronounced 
a public censure ? Reader, judge for yourself. — 
Yet permit the inquiry, Are these the rewards of, 
perhaps, an almost unexampled series of benevo- 
lent acts ? But I forbear. Possibly some devel- 
opement of this mystery is but just before us. 

But a few days had elapsed after my dismission, 
before the Rev. Timothy Stone, of Corn well, call- 
ed at my house, and informed me he had made a 
journey expressly to see me ; and could no longer 
remain at rest until he had unburdened his mind. — 
" Do you know, brother Parker," said he, " the 
cause of the sting contained in your dismission? 55 
I replied it was probable I did not know the extent 
of individual proceedings ; yet many things were 
apparently obvious respecting some of the mem- 
bers. He observed, " brother Perry and brother 
Harvey were determined to get you silenced." I 
inquired of him, on what grounds ; as I had never 
known of any complaint, or suggestion of impropri- 
eties against me. He replied, " They urged, you 
were plunged into the cares of the world!" I re- 
marked to him, I thought it very singular that Mr* 
Perry should urge this, when he had expressly 
pressed my engaging in a school ; and intimated, as 
I had understood him, .that he would render me ev- 
ery assistance possible ; and that he had also re- 
peatedly called on me to be helped to a loan in mo- 
ney ; and that after I had advanced much expense 
to accommodate my school, he had instituted 
schools, evidently calculated to diminish my num- 
ber of pupils, which must necessarily plunge me 
into much pecuniary embarrassment ; that, of all 
men, he must assuredly be the last, to suggest the 
complaint of my being plunged into worldly con- 
cerns, as no individual had probably contributed so 
extensively to entangle me with them. 



32 

I- observed, in respect to Mr. Harvey, who had 
been connected with us but a short time, and with 
whom I had but little acquaintance, I could not di« 
vine the origin of his motives, unless they had arisen 
from his apparent hostility to a young gentleman, 
whom I was then assisting in his education ; for 
which apparent hostility I could in no manner ac- 
count. Mr. Stone then observed, " they did every 
thing in their power to get you silenced ; but as 
they could not succeed in that, they would consent 
to nothing short of the sting contained in the re- 
sult of the council. To this, therefore, we were 
obliged to yield, as they w r ould not on any consider- 
ation, descend any farther. I could not remain qui- 
et any longer," said Mr. Stone, " without commu- 
nicating to you their hostility, and causing you to 
know they were your enemies, that you might be 
on your watch and guard respecting them." Such 
was the faithfulness of Mr. Stone to me on this oc- 
casion ; and his apparent feeling and frankness on 
the subject, clearly implied, that he deemed it im- 
portant that I should possess this information for 
my own safety. I presume he will still acknow- 
ledge, as he has before done, the facts on this sub- 
ject, and that this is a faithful narrative. 

The connexion having been dissolved between 
myself and the church and society of Ellsworth, 
as they had made no arrangement to supply the 
desk, and being unwilling to have them remain des- 
titute of a preached gospel, I went forward and sup- 
plied them on the following Sabbath. They imme- 
diately proposed to hire me, by the six months, or 
year, and to continue their nominal salary as before. 
To this I objected, for the same reasons for which 
I had asked for a dismission. I informed them, I 
was anxious they should speedily obtain a resettle- 
ment of the gospel ministry among them, and I 
would cheerfully unite with them in the accomplish- 
ment and maintenance of this important object. As 
no efforts were made to obtain any candidate, al- 



33 

though I frequently urged it, I continued to supply 
them gratuitously for nearly five months. Finding 
they would procure no other supply, in the month 
of April following, I engaged one myself, viz. Mr- 
Orange Lyman, with whom for some time I had 
formed a personal acquaintance, and whom I had 
selected as a suitable person to take the pastoral 
charge of that church and people. He began his 
supply the last Sabbath in April. His perform- 
ances were very acceptable to the congregation. I 
felt it to be ray duty, to procure his settlement, if 
possible, immediately, as he had pressing applica- 
tions in some other places, by which we were liable 
to be deprived of him ; and because delays, in ob- 
taining a settlement, are usually attended with in- 
creasing obstacles in a parish. 

During this time, the society's committee had 
come to an examination of their accounts with me, 
and found a balance in my favour, of several hun- 
dred dollars, with a probable deficiency for wood, 
for six or seven years. This appeared to excite an 
alarm, lest they should be unable to cancel my 
claim, and still furnish an immediate supply for the 
desk. To remove these apprehensions, and encour- 
age them to press forward without delay, to obtain 
a settlement of the gospel ministry, I relinquished 
almost the whole of my demand. I was well aware, 
at that time, that without great and persevering ef- 
forts, on my part, nothing could be effected. I ac- 
cordingly requested a meeting of the members of the 
society, on a given day, for the purpose of entering 
into some measures, which might accomplish the 
object so necessary to us. I had projected the 
plan of raising an additional fund of 2500 dollars, 
to b& vested in bank, the interest of which, togeth- 
er with the interest of the old fund, could that also 
be vested in bank, would probably afford a comfort- 
able support for a clergyman ; and which, if effect- 
ed, would be calculated to render the society eq^ial- 
ly permanent with the permanence of its funds. * At 
4* 



84 

the proposed meeting, I made known my plars f 
which met with approbation generally ; but two or 
three influential men did not appear to give it much 
countenance, and pronounced it impracticable. I 
had prepared an instrument for subscription, for the 
purpose of raising the proposed fund, in which it 
was conditioned, if the amount was not subscribed 
within two weeks, the subscribers would not be- 
come holden ; but if filled within that time, the 
subscribers were to be holden for their respective 
sums. It devolved on myself, almost exclusively, 
to procure the subscribers ; and the two weeks 
were faithfully devoted by me to its accomplish- 
ment. As an encouragement to stimulate to great- 
er liberality, I induced several to subscribe liberal- 
ly, who would not otherwise have subscribed at all, 
by assuring them that I would advance the half, or 
whole of their subscriptions, as I particularly stipu- 
lated with them, and which I afterwards fulfilled. 
Thus, by unwearied exertions, and subscribing my- 
self between four and five hundred dollars, the a- 
mount was obtained in due time. 

Very shortly after, the church and society unit- 
ed in giving Mr. Lyman a call to settle among them, 
and he was accordingly ordained in the month of 
August, 1813. In the accomplishment of these 
objects, and it will readily be acknowledged they 
were attributed wholly to my efforts, it appeared 
that I had incurred the displeasure of those indi- 
viduals, who had not discovered a lively interest in 
the establishment of the new fund ; and their dis- 
pleasure has been severe. But this was trifling in 
comparison with the importance of the objects 
sought to be obtained, viz. — the building up of the 
society, and its establishment on a permanent basis. 
Thus the expenses, which accrued to me for the 
benefit of the society, within the first year after ob* 
taining my dismission, as nearly as I could then es- 
timate, amounted to about 900 dollars. I have 
been more explicit in giving these particulars, on. 



35 

account of the bearings they may have in the se- 
quel. 

Immediately subsequent to my dismission, I en- 
deavoured to devise a plan which would be the most 
successful, in liberating me from the cares and bur- 
dens of my school, without a total sacrifice of all the 
many thousands of dollars which I had already ad- 
vanced for its accommodation ; and by extricating 
myself from which, I felt that I should be enabled 
shortly to become disengaged from my other secu- 
lar concerns, and thus speedily resettle in the minis- 
try. As the school had already become very ex- 
tensive, and I trust no one would then have called 
it arrogance to say, very celebrated ; it appeared 
to me to be suitable and proper, to have every con- 
venience made for a permanent establishment. I 
therefore adopted the following plan r As the legis- 
lature of the state claimed to be the patrons of 
science, I proposed to make application to them for 
assistance, in order to enlarge the accommodations^ 
and also for Some remuneration for my past ex- 
penses, and I would cheerfully place the whole 
establishment at the disposal and direction of the 
state. Could this object be accomplished, it wa$ 
my intention then to withdraw from the charge of 
the institution, and have the state appoint some able 
successor to manage its concerns, and thus continue 
the usefulness of the school. 

Accordingly I applied to the legislature, in the 
May session of 1813, and conversed, relative to my 
contemplated plan, with many members of both 
houses, with whom I had a personal acquaintance^ 
and who had known the efforts which I had made 
for my establishment, and its success* The very 
uniform reply made to me was, " that of all men, I 
ought to receive assistance, as probably no ten men 
in the state had ever done as much for a literary 
institution. They informed me, the expenses of 
the state were then greatly enhanced, by reason of 
Ihe war in which the nation was engaged ^ but as 



36 

sooa as their extra expenses should cease, they had 
no doubt the contemplated aid would be afforded." 
Indeed, numbers entertained the idea that it would 
even then be granted. In consideration of these 
encouragements, I presented a petition before the 
legislature, at that session, for assistance. My re- 
quest was not granted, professedly for the reasons 
already assigned, viz. the increased expenses of the 
state. Yet it was the opinion of individuals gene- 
rally, so far as I had opportunities to converse, that 
undoubtedly the state would grant me ten thousand 
dollars, so soon as their expenses should be re- 
trenched. With this encouragement, I proceeded 
to erect a boarding-house, also to enlarge my own 
dwelling and the school-building, which produced 
an additional expense of about six thousand dollars. 
These, with my former expenses, made in the ag- 
gregate about fourteen thousand dollars, In the 
May session of 1814, I made application to the ge- 
neral assembly, with a view to obtain assistance ; 
but it was deferred for the reasons already mention- 
ed; also the same was attempted in the October 
session following. The encouragement was still 
holden out, that as soon as the war should cease, no 
doubt I might safely calculate on a remuneration, of 
at least ten thousand dollars. 

In connexion with these expenses, it may not be 
improper to mention, as intimately uniting the links 
of the chain, that not a few youths shared largely 
in my liberality, in relation to their education. I 
recollect of no period, after a year or eighteen 
months from the commencement of my school, in 
which there was not from one to four or five, either 
indigent, or indigent and pious youths, who were 
continually sharing, more or less, in my liberality. 
Some received gratuitously their tuition only : 
more, their board and tuition : others, books, cloth- 
ing, and some other necessaries. Nor were bene- 
factions bestowed on them merely while they were 
at my school. Several were aided, more or less,* 



37 

through their collegiate studies. I have no hesita- 
tion in asserting, as my full belief, that had I kept 
regular charges of my various acts of charity, thus 
bestowed, during my residence in Ellsworth socie- 
ty, the amount would have equalled, if not exceed- 
ed, five thousand dollars. 

It is, furthermore, well known, that my benefac- 
tions were not confined to the different classes al- 
ready enumerated. To the needy, the destitute,, 
and the afflicted, I have never made the inconsola- 
ble tender to their solicitations,- " be ye warmed 
and be ye clothed." I have ever deemed it a pri- 
vilege to impart, to their comfort and necessities, a 
portion of what a merciful Providence w r as pleased 
to afford me. 

In respect to the assistance rendered to those ia 
trouble, by helping them to sums of money, together 
with endorsements and sureties, of which I have be- 
fore given some account, my tax has been very 
ample. From as accurate an estimate as I have 
been able to make, respecting these particular con- 
cerns, I have been compelled to advance, at a total 
sacrifice, about sixteen thousand dollars* The 
foregoing statement of my charities would not have 
been inserted, had they not been made the occasion: 
of abusive treatment, which I have received frem 
those who have sought my injury. 

In the autumn of 1814, commenced a scarcity of 
circulating medium. Until that period, I had never 
plead disappointment, as a tender, in payment of 
any claim against me ; but the creditor was sure of 
strictly prompt remittances. Nor was the instance 
but seldom found, in which the same procedure was 
not adopted, where I bad become surety for others. 
Frequently have I been compelled to advance, as 
endorser, sums oi money, even to thousands of dol- 
lars, on the short notice of a few hours. As the 
scarcity of money increased, I found it extremely 
difficult to meet the demands against myself, and 
supply for the delinquencies of those for whom I 



3$ 

had underwritten. Yet these were accomplished 
to a considerable extent for a time. Aware that 
difficulties would soon await us, in this situation, 
and two, for whom I had extensively endorsed, be- 
ing called upon in an unpleasant manner, I endea- 
voured to negociate a suspension of payments, for a 
given period of time, not only for myself, but all for 
whom I had underwritten. While attempting to 
accomplish this object, in hopes that all might yet 
sail through the tempest, the neglect of one indi- 
vidual, to fulfil his engagement, to attend to a nego- 
ciation at one place, while I had successfully attend- 
ed to all the others, left the gate open for the 
flood to burst in upon us. This individual was al- 
ready in difficulty, and this gross neglect rendered 
unavoidable the ruin which ensued. And now the 
fatal die was cast. This event took place about 
the middle of December, 1814. To struggle longer 
was unavailing. Like a sudden torrent, sweeping 
all before it, the attack was made. 

The disbursements which I had already advanc- 
ed for endorsements, school, society, and charities, 
were indeed very great. Yet, from as accurate an 
estimate as I could make, at the time of failure, of 
the property of which I was then possessed, as it 
cost me, it appeared that I had enough to cancel all 
demands against me, and leave a net balance in my 
favour of about eight thousand dollars. But in the 
settlement of claims, by coertion, property bears 
little or no proportion to its value. And my anti- 
cipations of legislative aid, could now no longer be 
indulged. Although a national peace was settled 
the following month, yet it has never produced one 
cent of remuneration : and I am sorry to add, that 
that protection which the laws have secured to ma- 
ny others, who have never been distinguished on 
the list of public beneficence, has been withheld 
from myself. i 

When I found the storm on a sudden about to 
burst upon me, having been one of the fund commit- 



39 

tee for two years, it was my first object to secure 
the funds of the society. As I had paid the pre- 
ceding year more than three hundred dollars on my 
late fund subscription, I entertained the idea that 
there was but one hundred remaining, having no 
papers by me to which to resort. To secure this 
sum, therefore, with several small fund collections 
then in my hands, embracing every thing within my 
recollection, I speedily made out a mortgage and 
forwarded it, without delay, for record. Shortly 
after, another of the fund committee called upon 
me, when I informed him of what I had done. I 
enumerated to him the particular sums comprehend- 
ed in the mortgage. He, not having the papers 
with him, supposed I had exceeded the amount ne- 
cessary to secure. Afterwards, when recurring to 
the fund subscription, instead of one hundred dol- 
lars, as we had supposed, an hundred and fifty 
were due on ray subscription. Thus there was a 
balance, in favour of the fund, not secured by mort- 
gage, of between forty and fifty dollars, for which I 
gave a note. The last mortgage given did not dif- 
fer greatly from two hundred and fifty dollars. This 
I put upon a piece of meadow land, of about three 
and a half acres, on which was a barn lately built, 
of more than fifty feet in length, and well finished, 
and also a carriage house. The land itself was then 
estimated at one hundred dollars, by the acre. 
This property afterwards became the society's, in 
consideration of the above mortgage and note, 
which probably afforded them a net profit, of at 
least fifty per cent, on the claims. 

I have been more particular in giving this state- 
ment, in consequence of exertions made to propa- 
gate the story, that I had obtained and squandered 
the funds of the society, by which means they were 
likely to be ruined* Indeed, this declaration was 
made in my presence, by a clergyman, not, per- 
haps, the most friendly, as has since been apparent, 
within a few months after, and represented in a very 



40 

^favourable light. This is the only case, of which 
I have any knowledge, where mention could be 
made of funds in my hands. Hence the depriva- 
tion was not on the part of the society, but my own. 

Such is the nature of man, and such are the ob- 
vious rewards of excessive benevolence. How 
true it is, " that prosperity gains friends? but ad- 
versity tries tliem" And these trials are, no doubt, 
often proportioned to the extent of unmerited fa- 
vours conferred. Such is the disposition of man, 
that in return for undeserved favours rendered, in 
nine instances out of ten, he will unquestionably 
load his benefactor with vile ingratitude. 

Here it may be necessary to revert to a circum- 
stance, from which have proceeded effects, singular 
and unaccountable. In the month of January, 
1810, a young gentleman by the name of Randolph 
Stone, then to me an entire stranger, made applica- 
tion for admission into my school. He presented 
me with a letter from an acquaintance, stating his 
circumstances. He was an orphan, who had recent- 
ly become hopefully pious. Being without funds 
himself, or relatives who were in a situation to ren- 
der him assistance, his object was to obtain an op- 
portunity of attending my school a short time, with- 
out advancing but little, if any, pecuniary compen- 
sation. After some conversation with him, relative 
to his circumstances, and his views and exercises, 
I agreed to receive him for a time, and make hirn a 
privileged student. He accordingly entered my 
school ; and having gained satisfaction of his piety 
and talents, and being induced to believe he would 
be useful in the ministry, should his life and health 
be continued, I was desirous he should receive a 
classical education. Of course, I continued him in 
my school until the December following, when I 
made application to the North Consociation of 
Litchfield county, which had for a short time been 
formed into a charitable society, for the purpose of 
aiding pious indigent young men in their education 



4i 

for the gospel ministry, to receive him under their 
patronage. The board of trustees who were duly 
authorised by the constitution, received him under 
their care and direction, and afforded him some as- 
sistance. They also gave him to understand, that 
he might expect reasonable assistance from them, 
during the period of his collegiate studies, and gave 
him directions in relation to his procedure in hia 
studies. At the annual meeting of the society, in 
September following, I received the appointment 
of one of the board of trustees, doubtless in refer- 
ence to the care of this recipient, although I still 
continued to defray some portion of his expenses. 
When the board of trustees were together, the suc- 
ceeding spring, it was agreed, and given to me in 
charge, if on examination, at the approaching com- 
mencement, I should find Mr. Stone was qualified 
to unite with the sophomore class of Yale college, 
that I should present him for admission. This I 
accordingly did, and he was received. It became 
necessary, in order to his membership in college, 
that bonds should be entered for the payment of his 
quarter bills. As he had no relatives who were 
willing to grant him this favour, in view of the assu- 
rances made him from the charitable society, I en- 
tered my own bonds, not as a trustee, but an indi- 
vidual. 

At the next meeting of the society, immediately 
succeeding his admission into college, viz. Septem- 
ber, 1812, I reported to the society what I had 
done in compliance with the directions of the trus- 
tees, and also of the entry of my bonds. It was 
goon observed, by one of the members present, 
that" if I had given my own bonds to secure the 
payment of Mr. Stone's expenses, he was sufficient- 
ly provided for, and they need not advance any 
more funds." I at first supposed the remark mere- 
ly romantic, and treated it as such ; but the result 
proved it to be in earnest. In appointing trustees 
for the coming year, I was liberated from the bur- 



42 

Jen. This at once indicated,- that I was to have 
no controling influence over their funds, to apply 
to the relief of my bonds given. I had already as- 
.certained the amount of his arrearage bills, the por- 
tion of which it devolved on him, or them, to pay. 
I proposed to the society, if they would advance 
funds to meet this demand, together with a small 
,sum to furnish his room in college with necessary 
articles of use, I would defray the residue of his 
expenses the coming year. This was not granted. 
They, however, appropriated one half of the pro- 
posed sum, which was insufficient to meet the ar- 
rearage claims; and thus he remained destitute of 
even one farthing of their aid in college. 

I soon perceived there was among them a report, 
injurious to the character of that young man, calcu- 
lated to destroy the reputation of an amiable and 
excellent youth, whose piety and correct deport- 
ment had been fully manifest. This appeared to 
have been propagated, or advocated, by Mr. Har- 
vey. I was enabled, on the spot, to repel the mis- 
chief, by stating to the society the origin and falsity 
of the report, and referring them to ample testimo- 
ny in proof of what I had advanced. I was shock- 
ed at such a procedure, directly calculated to de- 
stroy or mar the reputation of one, whose piety and 
correct deportment were his only recommendations, 
and which had been amiably maintained. 

As no assistance had been rendered by the socie- 
ty, to meet any future demand, nor, indeed, suffi- 
cient to satisfy the old claims, it became necessary 
for me to furnish funds to defray every charge. 
This I accomplished. As itwas inconvenient forme 
to attend at the next annual meeting, in September. 
1813, 1 requested the. Rev. Mr. Lyman to ask the 
society to afford some assistance for Mr. Stone, as 
I had defrayed all his expenses the preceding year. 
As I afterwards understood Mr. Lyman, he made 
the application, agreeably to my request, and Mr. 
Harvey immediately opposed it. Mr. Lyman re- 



43 

plied to Mr. Harvey's remonstrances, again and 
again, but to no effect. Mr. H. stated to the so- 
ciety things greatly prejudicial to the character and 
deportment of Mr. Stone, and assured the society, 
that he fek authorised to make this statement to 
them, as he had received it From one of the faculty 
of Yale college the preceding term ; and it was due 
to them to have this information, that they might no 
longer bestow their funds on an unworthy object; 
and that in consequence of this statement, a motion 
was immediately introduced before the society, by 
Deacon Tanner, of Warren, having previously cal- 
culated on the precise amount which Mr. Stone had 
received from them, that no person should receive 
appropriations from the board of trustees, over this 
specific amount, without a special resolve of the so- 
ciety. 

At this information I was amazed! Not long 
after, I was at the Rev. Mr. Starr's^ and made in- 
quiry of him relative to this transaction. I derived' 
from him the same idea, as I had from Mr. Lyman. 
In November following, I was at New-Haven, and 
called on the tutor of Mr. Stone's class, and inform- 
ed him, I had heard an unfavourable account of Mr. 
Stone. The tutor, not knowing the relation in 
w r hich I stood to him, as benefactor, as he afterwards 
informed me, assured me that the information was 
entirely unfounded ; and proceeded, without delay, 
to speak more in commendation of Mr. Stone, than 
I had ever before heard any of the faculty speak 
of a member of college. I inquired of him, whe- 
ther he would be willing to put it in writing ; to 
which he cordially assented, as a just tribute, to re- 
pel so gross an attack. He accordingly drew up a 
certificate, and signed it ; after which? it w T as pre- 
sented to the President, and the rest of the faculty, 
who as cheerfully subscribed to the same. It is 
evident, from examining the triennial college cata- 
logue, that there had not been even in a single in- 
stance any change in the college officers since the 



44 

preceding quarter, when, according to Mr. H's de 
claration, he had received the aforementioned in- 
formation from one of their number. I subjoin the 
certificate to which the faculty subscribed. 

" Yale College, Nov. 30th, 1813. 
"These may certify, that Randolph Stone, of the 
" Junior Class, has sustained, while here, an irre- 
" proachable moral character, and has uniformly 
" behaved with propriety towards the facultv of 
" this College. 

" Matthew R. Dutton, Tutor. 99 

" The above representation is, in my opinion, 
correct, 

"T. Dwight, President. 

"Aratius B. Hull, 

" Sam'l. I. Hitchcock, 

" John Langdon, 

"Josiah W. Gibbs, 

" Chauncey A. Goodrich. " 

On my return from New-Haven, it so happened, 
that I rode several miles in company with Deacon 
Tanner. I inquired of him respecting the repre- 
sentation of Mr. H. before the charitable society, 
ut their late meeting. He related to me Mr. H's 
statement, which appeared to me to comport entire- 
ly with the accounts given by the Rev. Messrs. 
Starr and Lyman. Deacon Tanner added, that in 
consequence of Mr. H's statement, he felt that they 
were bestowing charity on an unworthy object, and 
made the motion himself for the purpose of cutting 
off farther supplies. I then exhibited to him the 
above certificate, on the reading of which, he ap- 
peared astonished ! and if my memory serves me, 
he remarked, he could not have indulged such an 
idea of Mr. H. I observed, I did nothear Mr. H's 
statement, but if I had received correct informa- 
tion respecting it, the proceeding was unaccounta- 



45 

ble. I added, for him to plunge me into great 
pecuniary embarrassment, by having occasioned a 
delinquency on the part of the society, I consider- 
ed to be far the least evil which had resulted from 
his efforts. Indeed, I could not esteem it any thing 
in comparison with his aspersing the reputation of 
a young man, who sustained an irreproachable cha- 
racter, which was all his dependance. Deacon 
Tanner replied, that such an attempt, he presumed, 
I should not suffer to pass unnoticed. 

The Rev. Mr. Starr also read the certificate. If 
I have not strangely forgotten, the remarks of Mr. 
Starr were similar to those of his late delegate. 
Deacon Tanner. Mr. Starr subjoined, that he 
hoped the subject would be fairly adjusted by Mr* 
H. without the necessity of proceeding to public 
measures. 

What could have induced Mr. H. in these cases 
to have adopted the measures he had pursued 
against Mr. Stone, is best known to himself. Yet 
many people entertained the impression, that he in- 
dulged the expectation, if Mr. Stone could be re- 
moved from the patronage of the charitable society, 
he should be enabled to introduce a young man from 
his own parish, to fill the vacancy and receive the 
privileges. 

It was, I believe, in February following, that I 
first saw Mr. H. after this transaction. I took an 
opportunity to converse with him alone on the sub- 
ject; but couldnot obtain the least satisfaction. He 
justified his proceeding, by saying that he had re- 
ceived his information from one of the faculty of 
Yale College the preceding summer. I then in- 
formed him, I had lately obtained a certificate from 
the faculty, none of whom had been changed from 
the summer term, which appeared to give an entire- 
ly different complexion to the subject I believe 
Mr. EL will yet acknowledge that, at receiving this 
information, a tremor shook his frame, and paleness 
brooded upon his countenance. He however still 

5* 



46 

persisted that be had done right. I finally gave 
him to understand, that he had not afforded me any 
satisfaction on the subject ; but, on the contrary, 
had strengthened my dissatisfaction. He might, 
therefore, consider that interview as the first step 
towards a regular investigation of the subject, agree- 
ably to the rules of the gospel, contained in the 
18th chapter of Matthew. 

It was so ordered in Providence, as Mr. H. lived 
at the distance of about fourteen miles, that I 
had no opportunity of seeing him, when accompa- 
nied by one or two brethren in the ministry, until 
more than one year had elapsed from the first inter- 
view. Nor had he, during this time, made the 
least effort to render me satisfaction. In the mean 
time my failure had taken place. And how very 
common is the impression, when a person is strip- 
ped of his property, let it have proceeded from 
whatever cause, that a destitution of character is 
necessarily attached. This I conceive to be dis- 
tinguishingly the case in Connecticut. Hence this 
evidence is seemingly derived, ihat property > rather 
than virtue, in the view of mankind extensively, is 
what gives weight and stability to character. 

In April, 1815, I received information of an ex- 
tra ministers' meeting, only the day before, at the 
house of the Rev. Peter Slarr, in Warren. I was 
informed, that only three ministers had given their 
attendance from abroad, viz. Rev. Messrs. Timo- 
thy Stone, of Cornwall, Joseph Harvey, of Goshen, 
and Asa Blair, of Kent. One of the number soon 
after, viz. Rev. Mr. Stone, gave me the following 
information, as I understood him : that some weeks 
previous to their late meeting, Mr. Harvey had 
requested him to desire the Rev. Mr. Starr to com- 
mence a deal with me. He very soon communica- 
ted the request, and received an answer from Mr. 
Starr, that he had no grievance with me whatever* 
but was entirely satisfied himself 



47 

Not long after, Mr. Harvey called on him, Mr. 
Stone, and requested that he would accompany 
Mr. Harvey to Warren, where he expected to meet 
Mr. Blair, at Parson Starr's ; the object of which 
meeting was, to prevail on Mr. Starr, to commence 
a deal with me. He accompanied Mr. Harvey, 
and on his arrival found Mr. Blair, as was expect- 
ed. They then communicated to Mr. Starr, the 
object of their meeting. Mr. Starr informed them, 
he had no grievance with me, and should decline 
doing any thing about it. After considerable con- 
versation had passed, and some stories of a slander- 
ous nature were communicated, Mr. Starr finally 
consented te become agent in a prosecution. At 
the time of my receiving this information from Mr* 
Stone, it was my impression, and it has ever since 
been my full belief, that Mr. Starr's yielding up 
his own judgment, and consenting to be an instru- 
ment in the hands of those designing men, arose 
from.the debility of an age which had exceeded the 
limits of three score and ten, and that he would 
have acted differently in his better days. 

It would sesm, that the venerable Mr. Starr, be- 
ing a man of long established character, and experi- 
ence in the ministry, w T ould give greater weight to 
a prosecution, than one in younger life, and who 
had but just entered upon the ministry. 

In compliance with his engagement, the Rev. Mr/ 
Starr called upon me, on the 23d day of May, 1815, 
in order to take the first step, in a course of disci- 
pline. Well aware of the object of his visit, from 
information already obtained, I invited him into my 
study, to afford him a convenient opportunity of 
communicating his business. After sitting for 
some time, as if reluctant to enter on the duty of 
his mission, I introduced it myself, by informing 
him, I was apprised of the object of his visit, al- 
though I was ignorant of what were to be his allega- 
tions ; that I had the fullest confidence in the recti- 
tude of his intentions ; and should not receive it 



48 

unkindly from him, if any one must engage in it 3 
that he had entered upon this concern ; and re- 
quested, therefore, that he would proceed, without 
further delay, to commence his labours. 

Mr, Starr began, by observing he had a griev- 
ance with me, as I had not extricated myself from 
the cares of the world, in which I was entangled, at 
the time of my dismission, and devoted myself 
wholly to the ministry, as they had expected ; and 
hence he alledged that there was a breach of pro- 
mise. I entered into a lengthy detail of circum- 
stances with Mr. Starr, in relation to the causes, 
which had thus, unexpectedly and unavoidably 
brought this train of cares upon me. I observed, 
he was conscious, that no person could attribute 
avaricious motives to me, but on the contrary, ex- 
cessive benevolence. I remarked to him, that he 
well knew, my whole efforts, for several years, had 
been directed to public, and individual good ; that 
if I ever had any distinguishing object of ambition, 
it was, that I might be under circumstances, in 
which I might be enabled, to be continually educa- 
ting a number of indigent pious young men gratui- 
tously, for the ministry. Mr. Starr acknowledged, 
that my labours had been indefatigable, probably 
more than almost any other three men would have 
been able to perform. In respect to my ministerial 
labours, he would cheerfully allow, that previous 
to engaging in my school, I had probably preached 
more than any other minister in the association, in 
the same period of time, and that he had often cau- 
tioned me to desist, lest I should destroy my 
health ; also, since I had a school, that my labours 
would undoubtedly equal those of any other 
preacher in the vicinity. In respect to my school, 
that it had succeded, beyond that of any other in 
the state, the college excepted. Mr. Starr readi- 
ly granted, that my charities in educating pious, in- 
digent young men, in all probability, had equalled, 
If not exceeded those of the charitable society. 



49 

That instead of being supported by a parish, it 
would rather seem that J had supported a parish, 
and that they were almost exclusively indebted to 
ine for their privileges ; and that my liberalities, in 
other respects, probably far exceeded those of any 
other individual in the county, or state. ^ After he 
had cheerfully acknowledged all these, and even 
many more things, I inquired of him, what better 
method, I could have devised, than that which I 
had adopted, to become disengaged from worldly 
concerns. I reminded him, that he would well re- 
collect himself, and every other member of the con- 
sociation, who was present at my dismisssion would 
well remember, that there was no time limited by 
them, in which I was to accomplish my liberation ; 
of course, there could be no propriety in suggesting 
the idea of any breach of promise, as none had been 
either made, or implied ; that under these circum- 
stances, I thought it very extraordinary, that such 
^grievance should be alledged. 

Mr. Starr then proceeded to state a second griev- 
ance, in relation to a concern with John Tallmadge^ 
Esq. I gave him a full statement on the subject, 
and referred him to Mr. Tallmadge himself, to con- 
firm my own statement ; and that this grievance 
was consequently without any foundation. 

Mr. Starr then alledged a third grievance, pur- 
porting to relate to a concern with Gen. Thomson. 
I assured him, it was entirely new to me, that I 
knew not whence it arose r or to what it should al- 
lude. These composed his list of allegations. Mr. 
Starr did not inform me, whether he was satisfied 
or not with my replications, nor did he mention to 
me, that this was to be considered the first step, in 
order to an investigation. He withdrew, as I then 

* My apology for inserting the foregoing concessions of Mr. 
Starr is, that the reader may have a more clear apprehension 
of the real state of facts, and more readily discover the in- 
consistency of their ground of procedure, together with the 
apparent sources of envy* 



50 

Supposed, satisfied himself, if others should not 
again instigate him to proceed. 

Mr. Starr went immediately on to Mr. Perry's, 
in Sharon town, to attend, professedly, a monthly 
meeting ; although as he did not belong to that circle, 
it would seem more probable, to report the result of 
his interview to his employers, most, if not all of 
whom-attended. On the following morning, I re- 
paired to the meeting. The particular civilities of 
those, who had influenced Mr. Starr, to engage in 
his late undertaking, were singularly conspicuous 
towards me. This circumstance afforded reason- 
able evidence that Mr. Starr was not to rest satis- 
fied. Consequently, at the close of the meeting, 
Mr. Starr called on me for another interview, ac- 
companied by the Rev. Messrs. Timothy Stone, 
and Charles Prentice. I readily attended to the re- 
quest. Mr. Starr observed to me, that he should 
consider his conversation with me the preceding 
day, as the first step, in preparation for a public 
prosecution ; and should now proceed to take the 
second. I replied, that he would proceed. 

His first grievance, he stated as before. I ob- 
served, that we had conversed largely, the day be- 
fore, on the subject. If he was not then satisfied, 
he would not now be, by repeating it. He would 
therefore proceed. He then exhibited the second 
charge, relative to Mr. Tallmadge. I replied, 1 
could add no more, than I had already said, respect- 
ing it ; as he had since had no opportunity of con- 
versing with Mr. Tallmadge, for a confirmation of 
my assertions, it would be unavailing for me to re- 
peat them. Hence he would please to proceed. 
Mr. Starr replied, he had no more. I reminded 
him, there was a third charge, the preceding day. 
He added, he did not consider that as a charge, and 
should withdraw it, I gave him to understand, that 
it was a slanderous story, and I felt myself injured 
by such a report. I should, therefore, expect him 
to inform me whence he received it. He replied* 



51 

"he should not inform me." I repeated, that I 
surely ought to know who my slanderers were, that 
I might be enabled to repel so vile aspersions ; and 
could not doubt his willingness, to discharge his du- 
ty towards me, in giving me the necessary informa- 
tion. He again replied, " he should not inform 
me." I rejoined, I thought it extraordinary, and on 
moral principles, I considered him bound to inform 
me. He replied the third time, with much energy, 
" he should not inform me" I noticed apparent 
discontent, in one of the persons present, when I 
pressed this question, and therefore desisted. Mr. 
Starr then observed, that he was through. I receiv- 
ed no information from him, at this time, whether 
he was satisfied, or no v t ; nor did he use any efforts, 
to my remembrance, to convince me I was in fault; 
nor did he signify to me that he should farther pur- 
sue the subject. Yet a person must, I conceive, 
be very short sighted, not to have clearly seen the 
object in view. My feelings, respecting so novel 
a procedure, can be more easily imagined, than de- 
scribed. 

I then requested of Messrs. Starr and Pren- 
tice, that they would accompany me, in taking the 
second step wiih Mr. Harvey. They hesitating- 
ly assented. I called on Mr. Harvey, who im- 
mediately came forward. The Rev. Mr. Stone al- 
so volunteered his attendance. After observing to 
Mr. Harvey, that I had taken the first step with 
him, more than one year before, as he would well 
remember, and he still had refused- to render me any 
satisfaction, I should then proceed to enter upon 
the second. Having laboured with him a long time, 
to no effect, as he still justified his proceeding, 
and received occasional strength from some of those 
who accompanied me, contrary to my former views 
of declarations made, I informed him, that no satis- 
faction was obtained from him. I should, therefore, 
consider it my duty, to file a complaint, and call 
him before the association, for their investigation, 



52 

mid decision, relative to his proceedings. He ob 
served, if I have not greatly forgotten, I need not 
adopt this measure, with an expectation of prevent- 
ing him from acting on my trial ; for he would act, 
and vote. This established, what their whole con- 
duct, toword me, had obviously exhibited, that my 
prosecution was premeditated, and sure. I then 
replied, I suppose Mr. Harvey, you probably in- 
formed Mr. Starr of the Gen. Thomson story. 
There was almost an instantaneous agitation, and 
fluttering, or, I was deceived* Mr. Harvey, with 
much apparent hesitancy, began to reply, and stam- 
mered, — finally observed, " I do not know ; I be- 
lieve I did tell Mr. Starr, the story ; but I never 
heard of it, until Mr. Stone told it to me, in April, 
when we were going to Warren." Mr. Starr 
seemed rather to choke, or stammer, but soon said, 
he did not know, or remember who of them told 
him ; but he heard it mentioned, when they were 
at his house, in April. It appeared to be finally 
agreed, that Mr. Harvey told Mr. Starr; but Mr. 
Harvey received it from Mr. Stone on the road to 
Warren. As the subject evidently gave much un- 
easiness, I forbore to pursue it. 

I then requested the Rev. Messrs. Starr, and 
Prentice, to accompany me, in taking the second 
step with Mr. Perry. 

I had, for three or four years, been urged by one 
or more members of the church under his care, and 
others, to call him to an account for prevarications, 
or falsehoods. I had declined, as it was equally in- 
cumbent on them, to enter upon this discipline, and 
as I thought, far more so ; and also, as I was then 
a settled minister in the same town. It was, how- 
ever, deferred. But, some time previous to our 
then present meeting, I had recommenced the en- 
quiry with Mr. Perry ; and not having gained any 
satisfaction, I improved that opportunity of pursu- 
ing it. The second step was then taken, but it 
did not produce the least satisfaction. Mr. Perry, 



53 

in accordance with Mr. Harvey's late declarations, 
if I mistake not, assured me, that it was needless to 
pursue these steps, as he would act and vote 
whenever my trial should be attended. I thought 
it singular, that both of these ministers should 
make such declarations, when I had from necessity, 
as I conceived, commenced my inquiries long be- 
fore them ; and even before I had any knowledge 
or expectation that such a procedure could possi- 
bly be undertaken against me, or probably any pro- 
scription was contemplated. We then dispersed. 

As I was informed, either in the same or follow- 
ing day, which I do not recollect, by one who ac- 
companied these clergymen on their return — all be- 
ing on horseback, Messrs. Starr, Stone, and Har- 
vey, rode side by side on the road — Mr. Starr said 
to Mr. Harvey, " I am sorry you told brother Par- 
ker about the Gen. Thomson story. 5 ' Mr. Har- 
vey replied, " I should not have owned it, had I 
not supposed you had told him all about it." Mr. 
Starr said, tl no, I had not; I did not mean he 
should know it." Mr. Stone expressed his re- 
gret, that I should have received any information 
about it ; and finally those remarks were closed 
with this expression, if I do not mistake, by Mr. 
Starr, " brother Parker is too cunning for us, and 
if we do not look out he will have us all down 
yet." If this declaration was true, it was very ex- 
pressive ; and I think clearly indicated an expec- 
tation that I should soon fall, unless I should dis- 
cover their efforts in due time, in which case, pos- 
sibly, the evil might recoil upon them. Such were 
the ideas I received, as nearly verbatim, as the 
strong impressions then made on my mind are still 
retained. 

Soon after I saw the Rev. Mr. Stone, who had 
of late appeared to be very actively engaged, and 
conversed with him relative to his reporting the 
slanderous story respecting Gen. Thomson, with- 
out first coming to me to ascertain whether it was 

6 



54 

well founded. I informed him, I felt myself great 
ly injured by his procedure, and that his conduct 
was in direct violation of the rules of the gospel. 
He justified his conduct, and affirmed that he was 
right. I replied, he would not thus preach to his 
church and people ; that the consequences in that 
case would be fatal both to him and them ; and that 
his practice, surely, ought to accord with his pre- 
cepts. That in the present case, the injury sus- 
tained was, in every respect, far more aggravating 
than that of persons in private stations. To slan- 
der a clergyman, was productive of immensely 
more mischief in a community ; and to be slander- 
ed by a clergyman, was, in my opinion, equally 
heinous. But these reasons had no influence on 
Mr. Stone. He still averred, that he had done 
right. I assured him, it was by no means satisfac- 
tory to me, either in principle or practice ; and I 
must beg leave to refer the subject to the associa- 
tion for a decision, unless he should accommodate 
it in a proper manner ; and that he would necessa- 
rily consider that opportunity as the first step to* 
wards an investigation. 

About the first of June following, I received the 
copy of a complaint from the Rev. Mr. Starr, 
which contained only the first article of charge, and 
at the same time a notice to appear and answer to 
this complaint, on the second Tuesday of said 
June, before the north association of Litchfield 
county, to be convened at Burlington, in the coun- 
ty of Hartford. 

The following letter from John Tallmadge, Esq. 
was received, if I rightly remember, on the day of 
its date ; and evidently written without the slight- 
est solicitation from any person, either directly or 
indirectly ; but prompted solely by a conviction of 
the importance of supporting truth and repelling 
slander. 



35 

" Warren > Wi June, 1815. 
Rev. Daniel Parker, 

Dear Sir — Some time since, the Rev. Mr. Starr 
called on me to know if the prevailing report of 
the failure of our security, by means of a subse- 
quent deed from Mr. Parker, was true. I replied 
that it was. He replied, that it looked like fraud. 
I observed, that in whatever light the public might 
be disposed to view the transaction, yet, from con- 
versation with Mr. Parker, I had every reason to 
believe, that it was done without the least intention 
or design to injure or defraud us. Some time af- 
ter, Mr. Starr informed me that he had conversed 
with you on the subject, when I again repeated to 
him my full belief that no fraud or evil was in- 
tended by Mr. Parker. Mr. Starr observed, I do- 
not believe we have any evidence of the fraud. 
Accept this, sir, as proceeding from that spirit of 
friendship with which I am, sincerely, yours. 

JOHN TALLMADGE." 

It may be necessary to observe, that Mr. Starr- 
had already taken the first ami second steps with 
me, on the charge of having practised fraud upon 
Esquire Tallmadge, although he had omitted it in 
his complaint, of which I had already been served 
with a copy. As the writer of the preceding let- 
ter was a member of the church, under the pasto- 
ral care of Mr. Starr, also one of his nearest neigh- 
bours, and frequently a delegate from the church, 
and who, of course, must have been sensibly ag- 
grieved, had the allegation the slighest foundation, 
the letter would seem sufficient, not only to repel 
every imputation of guilt on the part of the accu- 
sed, but strongly to implicate the accuser of at- 
tempting unchristian measures,, to cast a blot upon 
innocence, by producing infamy, and perhaps a cen- 
sure, when the accuser had previously been assu- 
red that the charge was groundless, even by him 
whom he had alleged to have received the injury* 



56 



$n the second Tuesday of June, I appeared be- 
fore the association at Burlington, and found the 
complaint already exhibited. I informed the asso- 
ciation I had not come prepared for trial, as two of 
my important witnesses were out of the state ; the 
one gone to New Connecticut, and would not return 
until September following ; the other confined on 
a bed of sickness, in the state of New-York ; and 
my other witnesses resided at the distance of 30 or 
40 miles, which would render it difficult, and even 
impracticable, to attend at that time ; and as I had 
previously contemplated a journey to the west- 
ward, within a few weeks, which could not be ac- 
complished until the middle of the ensuing Septem- 
ber, I should make the request, that the complaint 
be laid over for trial, to the next regular meeting of 
the association, on the 4th Tuesday of September 
following. In the mean time my witnesses might 
probably return, and I should be enabled to per- 
form my intended tour ; whereas, should they ad- 
journ to an intermediate time, I should be deprived 
the important privilege of absent witnesses, and 
also be prevented from the performance of my 
journey. It was observed by the Rev. Jonathan 
Miller, at whose house we had assembled, that he 
considered my request to be perfectly reasonable ; 
that I ought to be indulged with the privilege of 
procuring my witnesses, and that, before these could 
be conveniently obtained, there would be sufficient 
time to accomplish my proposed journey. More- 
over, that he did not consider the complaint to 
amount to any thing, or, that it was of a very trivial 
nature. 

At this stage of the transaction we were called 
out to tea. While sitting at the table, Messrs. 
Hallock and Miller observed to me, again and 
again, that the association would surely grant my 
request, as on every principle it was perfectly rea- 
sonable ; and added, that they did not consider the 
complaint to amount to any thing. I was well 



57 

aware they spake with their wonted candour and 
frankness, judging like rational men, from docu- 
ments and circumstances before them, and in ac- 
cordance with common usages ; and thus it was ap- 
parent that they were not, as yet, influenced by 
any secret or combined efforts, if such had hereto- 
fore been exerted by any individuals. 

After tea, the session was immediately resumed; 
of course, my request would be the first business 
in order. Mr. Miller then made the motion, that 
my request should be granted, viz. to defer the tri- 
al until the September session, for the reasons 
which had already been suggested. The Rev. 
Samuel J. Mills seconded this motion. At this 
instant, the Rev. Peter Starr arose and elbowed, 
I think, Mr. Miller, another Rev. clergyman did 
the same to Mr. Mills, and a third proceeded in 
the same manner with another member, all of 
whom immediately passed out at the door. As- 
tonishment seized me ! It was, indeed, evening, but 
candles had been previously lighted up ! My feel- 
ings and surprize were indescribable ! I looked 
around, as if unwilling to believe my own senses ! 
Thought I, has the benevolent gospel of the Prince 
of Peace taken its flight ? I arose and addressed 
the venerable Mr. Hallock : " Mr. Moderator, I 
am here arraigned on a complaint. My own repu- 
tation is as dear to me, as that of others to them- 
selves. I ask for nothing more than an unbiassed 
and Christian examination of facts, and a decision 
correspondent with them. This I had expected 
from this venerable body. I had expected the can- 
dour and meekness of the gospel, in a trial where 
the honour of religion, as well as private reputation, 
were deeply concerned. x I could not have indul- 
ged the belief, that efforts so bold and unpreceden- 
ted, even before merely civil tribunals, would have 
been hazarded, where undue influence must ne* 
cessarily be resorted to, as the only alternative to 
accomplish nefarious designs. You have witness- 
ed 



58 

41 

ed the singular transactions, and time must decide 
the consequences." 

Reader, judge of my yet greater astonishment, 
when these Rev. gentlemen returned to the room, 
after an absence, of perhaps three or four minutes, 
and the Rev. Mr. Miller, who had just made the 
motion to defer the trial, observed to the mo- 
derator, that on further reflection upon the sub- 
ject, he was induced to consider the charge to be 
of a very aggravating nature ; that it would be 
improper to defer the trial ; that he would with- 
draw the motion he had already made, and move 
that they proceed, immediately to trial ! ! The 
Rev. Mr. Mills withdrew his seconding of the for- 
mer motion, and seconded the latter ! I remonstra- 
ted against it; and suggested the impossibility of 
proceeding to trial at that time, without witnesses, 
as it would be impossible to give the subject a can- 
did examination and come to the merits of the 
case ; and that important witnesses, necessary to be 
improved in the trial, had left the state for the 
summer, previous to their commencing their prose- 
cution ; an inconvenience which I could not possi- 
bly have foreseen or prevented. I claimed only 
the privilege of defence. It was then strenuously 
urged, that they should adjourn for only two weeks. 
This,. I replied, would unavoidably deprive me of 
the opportunity of defence, which I claimed to be 
my right and my duty. But it was still pressed. 
Thus hemmed in, by a seemingly incredible proce- 
dure, and having received credible information, 
that one of the active Rev. members present had 
made the declaration, precisely eight days before, 
" that he would have me silenced in eight days, 
nnd he had got a number of his brethren to join 
Mm," and that recent transactions must confirm 
this declaration, I consented to an adjournment of 
four weeks; and assured them I would suffer the 
inconvenience of absent witnesses, and the non-ac- 
complishment of my intended journey. But I.. 



69 

should claim that the adjournment should be to my 
own liaise in Ellsworth, and at my own expense, 
as I deemed it reasonable that the trial should be 
held, where it was alleged the crime was commit- 
ted ; and also the average of travel would render 
that the only suitable place. This last part of the 
proposition was strenuously opposed, and, indeed, 
the first part was altercated. It was; finally agreed 
the trial should be adjourned for four weeks ; but 
it was objected to meeting at my house, and assign- 
ed as the reason for the refusal, that if they should 
not condemn me, the world would say, I had over- 
loaded them with kindnesses, and thus had pur- 
chased a liberation from just censure. They final- 
ly resolved to meet at the meeting-house in Ells- 
worth, on the 11th of July, 1815, at 11 o'clock, A. 
M. and each member defray his own expenses-. 

It was now about nine o'clock at night, and many 
dispersed for lodging to neighbouring houses. 
Early the next morning we reassembled at Mr. Mil- 
lers. Immediately after breakfast, the Rev. Mr, 
Starr requested a private conversation. I cheer- 
fully retired with him. It was at once apparent, 
that the whole of the preceding night had not, by 
all the members of the association, been wholly de- 
voted to repose. As the subject of commencing a 
prosecution had succeeded by the joint efforts of 
some individuals, or, in modern language, by cau- 
cusing, it was obvious that the system was not yet 
wholly abandoned. Mr. Starr observed to me 3 
that he should commence a new deal. I replied, 
he might adopt such measures as he judged suita- 
ble ; that I asked for nothing but the light of truth, 
allowing for the common frailties of man. Mr. 
Starr then said, "that he had to accuse me, in the 
first place, of unfaithfulness in the ministry, both 
before and since my dismission from my church and. 
people." I replied, that was a very serious charge ; 
and it was obvious from the manner in which he 
had stated it ; no minister could stand before it. I 



60 

remarked to this effect, that it was needless for me 
to make any reply, as neither he or any other per- 
son, before, had ever suggested the idea of unfaith- 
fulness in ministerial labours ; but, on the contrary, 
he would well remember that he had repeatedly 
cautioned me against being so laborious in the minis- 
try, lest I should destroy my health and constitu- 
tion, by overexertions, and too frequent labours in 
the desk, and out of it : that to be faithful, in the 
sense which he evidently designed to communi- 
cate, transcended the ability of any finite being ; 
that 'a mist be clearly obvious he was not discharg- 
ing a duty suggested by himself. That I had in- 
deed the fullest confidence in the rectitude of his 
intentions ; but that an obvious advantage had been 
taken of his second childhood, and, I presumed to 
say, that he would yet see and realize that his ef- 
forts would prove sources of future contrition. I 
then requested him to proceed. He stated that he 
had another charge, the substance of which was 
contained in the complaint already filed, viz. a 
breach of promise, made at the time of my dismis- 
sion from my pastoral charge ; that I engaged I 
would extricate myself from worldly cares, into 
which I had been drawn, within the period of eigh- 
teen months or two years, and would return to the 
ministry ; and that I had not fulfilled this engage- 
ment." I replied, " Father Starr, you were the 
Moderator of the Consociation at the time of my 
dismission. I ask you if such a promise was ever 
made by me, or could possibly be inferred from 
what was observed at that time?" He remarked, 
" surh is the charge that I have to exhibit against 
you." But, I rejoined, has the charge the shadow of 
foundation? He would not assert it, but again re- 
plied, " such is the charge I have to exhibit." I 
observed, I am surprised that you prefer a charge, 
which neither yourself, nor any other member who 
composed the council, would presume to assert has 
the shadow of truth ; and I cheerfully appeal to 



6i 

you to assert the fact. He again repeated, " such 
is the charge." I replied, Mr. Starr, I distinctly 
recollect, and I presume it is still fresh in your 
own remembrance, that the question was put to me 
at the time of my dismission, how long it would 
probably take me to disengage myself from those 
secular concerns in whicB I was ensnared, that I 
might be enabled to devote myself wholly to the 
ministry ; whether I might not accomplish it in 
eighteen months, or two years? My reply was, I 
cannot tell ; I wish it accomplished as soon as 
possible ; and that I immediately consulted with 
those, on whose judgment I supposed I could place 
reliance, and adopted and pursued such measures 
as appeared to me the most likely to accomplish 
the desired object- And I uov; ask you to say. 
w T hether any thing more was suggested or implied ? 
He answered, " he should not say" Mr. Starr 
now observed, he w T as through. To whom I re- 
plied, if you have no other charge, permit me to in- 
quire, whether you can justify your proceedings in 
relation to the Tallmadge charge, on which you 
proceeded to take a first and second step, and thus 
to publish a slanderous report ? His reply w T as, 
" he had done right," as Mr. Tallmadge had ex- 
pressed to him the grievance as he had alleged* 
I then took the letter of Mr. Tallmadge from my 
pocket and presented it to him, asking him if he 
knew r the hand writing. He said it was Mr. Tall- 
madge's. I desired him to peruse it, which he 
readily attempted. Symptoms of uneasiness, pale- 
ness, and an evident tremor, were clearly visible at 
the perusal. I asked him how his charge was re- 
concilable with the contents of that letter, which 
w T as sent to me unsolicited by any being ; but must 
obviously have originated from a conviction of the 
injury he had wrongfully charged upon me, and had 
been written for the purpose of repelling so foul an 
aspersion ; that Mr. Tallmadge, of all persons, must 
in that case necessarily have been the first to be ag- 



83 

grieved, had there been just cause of grievance. 
But his declarations are the reverse, and those, it 
seems by the letter, he had declared to yourself, 
I assured him, I felt myself greatly injured by his 
procedure, and should only ask that he would heal 
the wound he had inflicted, by declaring to the as- 
sociation what the leiter purports, that the charge 
was without foundation. But no, said Mr. Starr, 
"he had done right/' and should make no restitu- 
tion. I assured him this would by no means heal 
the breach he had made, and I must, of course, beg 
leave to have the subject investigated. I would 
cheerfully submit it to a decision of the association. 
Should they pronounce it right, I would acquiesce 
in it ; if not, I should expect he w r ould obviate the 
slander. He would therefore cojisider that the first 
step in the course of an investigation. 

Mr. Starr then inquired of me whether I was 
willing he should proceed to the second step with 
me, on his. new charges, within the space of fifteen 
minutes. To which I answered in the affirmative, 
and observed^ I supposed he w r as willing I should 
do the same. To this he objected, stating that the 
time would be too short between the first and 
second steps. I reminded him, if it was proper for 
him, it would be equally so for me. He added, he 
did not know ; he would refer it to the old minis- 
ters. I assured him I would cheerfully refer the 
whole to the old ministers. Mr. Starr then pro- 
posed our return to the association, which was now 
in session, and so soon as there should be a little 
recess of business, he would invite out some of the 
aged ministers for consultation. To this I readily 
assented. We immediately repaired to the session, 
and after sitting probably from two to three hours, 
there having been no recess in business, Mr. Starr 
beckoned to two others, with myself, to withdraw, 
which we did ; when, without any consultation, he 
proceeded to take the second step on his recent 
charges. This done, I requested the same gentle- 



63 

men to accompany me, while I proceeded to take 
the second step with good father Starr; after which 
I requested the same to accompany me in the 
second step with the Rev. Timothy Stone, which 
was all accomplished. Mr. Stone observed, it was 
needless for me to pursue a course of discipline with 
him, (although it was for gross slander,) as he would 
act and vote at my approaching trial. I assured 
him, that had no influence upon me in the pursu- 
ance of an imperious duty which I was bound to 
discharge. He uttered a similar suggestion, in re- 
spect to the others with whom I had proceeded in 
a course of investigation, observing they would all 
act on my trial. 

I did not doubt either his or tlieir dispositions 
on the subject, knowing that the Rev. Mr. Stone 
was the person who had made the declaration al- 
ready mentioned, viz. " that he would have me si- 
lenced in eight days, and that he had got a number 
of his brethren to join him;" and it was possible 
these were the very individuals ; for they had seve- 
rally, in taking the second step with them, with, 
perhaps, the exception of Mr. Starr, averred they 
would sit and act in my trial. I, however, did not 
then communicate to Mr. Stone, or others, the de- 
claration he had made. 

We now soon dispersed. My reflections on 
man, in view of such a singular series of unexpected 
yet successive events, powerfully impressed on my 
mind the forcible declaration of the wise man, who 
declared, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 
" There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth 
good and sinneth not." Indeed, the emotions ex- 
cited in my mind no pencil could describe ! Yet I 
indulged strong confidence, that I should be shield- 
ed against whatever combinations might be formed 
for my destruction. 

About the first of July I received another copy 
of complaint from the Rev. Peter Starr, containing 
but one article of charge, accompanied with a cita- 



64 

tion to appear before the association at the adjourn 
ed meeting at Ellsworth, on the 11th of July, and 
answer to the same. Although Mr. Starr had com- 
menced his charges de novo, at Burlington, yet it 
seems, as the association had adjourned on the trial 
of the complaint then before them, it would be ne- 
cessary it should continue ; otherwise their ad- 
journment might be affected ; of course, in filing his 
second complaint, he inserted but one article of 
charge, leaving his first complaint to embrace the 
other, and thus inverting the order in which he had 
just before placed them. 

In the mean time, I had filed complaints against 
the Rev. Messrs. Peter Starr, Timothy Stone, and 
Joseph Harvey, and served them with their respec- 
tive copies, and notices to appear before the North 
Association, on the said 11th of July, and answer 
to their several articles of charge- I had neglected 
to file a complaint against Mr. Perry, of Sharon, 
although I had some time previous taken the regu- 
lar steps ; as the witnesses, by whom the charges 
were expected to be proved, were out of the state, 
and would not return until after the adjourned meet- 
ing of the association; for which reason alone the 
complaint w T as deferred. The ground of grievance 
with this member will be seen, by recurring to the 
preceding pages. 

I deem it essential to insert the complaints, copies 
of which had been already served, on account of 
the extraordinary exclusion of them from trial, ef- 
fected by the alteration of the constitution of the 
association, as will be noticed hereafter ; and the 
obviously important effects they may have occa- 
sioned in the subsequent proceedings. 

The following are exact transcripts of the origi- 
nal complaints. It may be proper here to observe, 
that I had commenced a labour with Mr. Harvey, 
against whom the following complaint was filed, at 
least fifteen months previous to a labour being en- 
tered upon with myself, though not as long before 



65 

Lis efforts were in operation to influence the Rev. 
Mr. Starr to undertake a labour with me. 

Complaint against Mr. Harvey. 
" To the North Association of Litchfield countyv 
to be convened, by adjournment, at the meeting- 
house in Ellsworth society, in Sharon, July 11th, 
1815. 

" Whereas the North Consociation of Litchfield 
county did, several years since, form themselves into 
a charitable society , the object of which was, c to aid 
and assist pious indigent young men, 5 in obtaining a 
collegiate education, in order to their being more 
thoroughly qualified for the work of the gospel 
ministry : And whereas the said consociation, or 
charitable society, did, by their board of trustees 
duly authorised, receive under their care and pat- 
ronage Mr. Randolph Stone, as a suitable object of 
their charity and patronage, in December, 1810, 
and gave him and the subscriber reason to expect 
their encouraged or promised aid to the said Mr. 
Stone, during the period of his collegiate studies ; 
and did, in said December, 1810, commence their 
aid, by a donation of fifty dollars to the said Mr. 
Stone, with directions relative to his procedure in 
acquiring an education ; and did at future periods 
also donate ; thus inducing the subscriber, as well 
as him, to rely on their promised or encouraged aid, 
in the pursuit and attainment of a liberal education : 
" The subscriber begs leave to state to the said 
North Association of Litchfield county, that our 
brother, the Rev. Joseph Harvey, of Goshen, in 
said Litchfield county, has at various times during 
the two or three years last past, given out insinua- 
tions and representations, relative to the said Mr. 
Randolph Stone, highly prejudicial to his character 
and injurious to his good name ; and particularly in 
September, 1813, before the said charitable socie- 
ty, convened in Torringford, in said Litchfield 
county ; by which improper insinuations and repre- 

7 



66 

mentations of our said brother Harvey, the said Mr, 
Stone was greatly and criminally injured, in respect 
to his good name, which was dearer to him than 
" precious ointment," and on the maintenance and 
support of which, he deemed the streams of chari- 
ty, under God, were wholly dependent, to complete 
his education to qualify him for the gospel minis- 
try ; and which said insinuations and representa- 
tions operated greatly to the prejudice and injury 
of the said Mr. Stone, and were instrumental in 
cutting off all further supplies to the said Mr. Stone, 
of the encouraged or promised aid of the said cha- 
ritable society; in consequence of which, great in- 
jury has accrued, not only to the good name of Mr. 
Stone, but also an unexpected and unreasonable 
expense devolved upon the subscriber, highly pre- 
judicial to his interests, comfort, and peace, which 
was injuriously and criminally accomplished by the 
said insinuations and representations of* our said 
brother Harvey, and calculated immediately to af- 
fect the subscriber, as he had given bonds for the 
payment of the said Mr. Stone's quarter bills in col- 
lege ; thus relying on the promised or encouraged 
aid of the said charitable society, and consequently 
the maintenance and support of the good name of 
the said Mr. Stone, to secure the said promised or 
encouraged aid of said charitable society. 

" From this general statement, the subscriber now 
makes complaint to the aforesaid association, that 
our said brother, Joseph Harvey, has violated the 
rules of the gospel, in several particulars, and there- 
by rendered himself highly criminal. 1st. By un- 
just and improper representations and insinuations* 
calculated to injure the reputation and good name 
of the said Mr. Stone, and which has really pro- 
duced the effect, and contributed to the total sup- 
pression of the promised or encouraged aid, from 
the aforesaid charitable society ; and which said 
insinuations and representations, on the part of our 
said brother Harvey a appear to be in violation of 



67 

some, if not all, of the following directions, given 
for our observance in the holy Scriptures : viz. Ti- 
tus iii. 2. < Speak evil of no man.' James h\ 11. 
* Speak not evil one of another, brethren. 5 1 Co- 
rinthians vi. 8. ' Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, 
and that your brethren.' 1 Peter iv. 6. ' That no 
man go beyond, and defraud his brother in any mat- 
ter.' Romans xiv. 10. 4 Why dost theu judge thy 
brother, and why dost thou set at nought thy bro- 
ther?' And also, Zachariah viii. 16. c Speak every 
man truth to his neighbour.' 

" The above charge, in the opinion of the sub- 
scriber, affects not merely the said Mr. Stone, in 
point of injury and injustice, but also the whole 
body of this association, as well as the subscriber : 
2dly. That by reason of the aforesaid conduct of 
our brother Harvey, the subscriber has sustained 
great injury and injustice, not only in a pecuniary 
manner, which has contributed to bring on an at- 
tendant train of evils, but also in point of reputa- 
tion, standing in the relation of a fostering parent 
and guardian to the said Mr. Stone ; and the aspers- 
ing of whose reputation does injury and injustice to 
the subscriber : which said conduct of our brother 
Harvey appears to be in violation of some, if not 
all the following passages of Scripture : 1 Cor. vi* 
8. ' Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your 
brother.' 1 Thess. iv. 6. * That no man go beyond, 
and defraud his brother in any matter.' Matthew 
vii. 12. * Therefore, all things, whatsoever ye would 
that men shouJd do unto you, do ye even so to 
them.' Rom. xiii. 10. i Love worketh no ill to his 
neighbour.' And James iv. 11. ( Speak not evil 
one of another.' 

" On the foregoing articles of charge, the subscri- 
ber has proceeded, according to the rule given us in 
the 18th chapter of Matthew, to take the first and 
second steps with* our said brother Harvey, 
without obtaining any satisfaction. The subscri- 
ber, therefore, feels it to be his duty to make the 



68 

above statement to the association, and also to ex- 
hibit the above articles of charge against our bro* 
ther Harvey, desiring a candid and careful exami- 
nation into the above charges, and that he may be 
dealt with agreeably to the rules of the gospel. 
"DANIEL PARKER. 

" For evidence, refer to the brethren of the con- 
sociation these two or three years past. 

" Sharon, June30tk, 1815. " 

A true copy of the above was delivered Mr. Har 
vey, eight days previous to the session of the asso- 
ciation, agreeably to the constitution of their board. 

Complaint against Mr. Stone. 
f* To the North Association of Litchfield county^ 
to be convened, by adjournment, at the meeting- 
house in Ellsworth society, in Sharon, July 11th, 

iulJ. 

" The subscriber begs leave to state to the asso- 
ciation, that our brother Rev. Timothy Stone, of 
Cornwall, in said Litchfield county, has reported a 
story, purporting to relate to the subscriber and 
deeply to affect his moral character, as the said 
story implies prevarication on the part of the sub- 
scriber ; and that our said brother Stone has report- 
ed the said story to others, as if true, without in- 
quiring of the subscriber whether it.was true or not ; 
and in consequence of his thus reporting the said 
story, in violation of the rules of our Saviour, the 
said report was, by another brother, suggested as a 
grievance to the subscriber; and also his thus re- 
porting was calculated to prejudice the public mind 
against the subscriber, and thereby to injure his re- 
putation in their estimation. 

" The subscriber, therefore, now accuses our 
said brother Stone of a violation of the rules of the 
gospel: 1st. A violation of Matthew xviii. 15. ' If 
thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him 
his fault between thee and him alone.' 



w 

**2dly. In speaking evil of a brother, and aspers- 
ing his good name, contrary to that portion of Scrip- 
ture in James iv. 11. ' Speak not evil one of ano- 
ther, brethren.' Titus iii. 2. c Speak evil of no 
man.' Also Psalm ci. 5. Whoso privily slandereth 
his neighbour,' &c. All of which conduct of our 
said brother Stone, the subscriber considers as high- 
ly criminal, not only as reports thus propagated, 
and especially by one who sustains the sarcerdotal 
office, and to the implication of a brother sustaining 
a similar office, whose example ought to accord with 
his precept, which he professes to derive from the 
word of God ; but also by thus reporting to the 
injury and injustice of his brother, such report is 
calculated, under existing circumstances, peculiar- 
ly to affect the subscriber, in producing an undue 
prejudice, or influence, in a trial now pending be- 
fore this association, in which the subscriber is de- 
fendant. 

" The subscriber has proceeded agreeably to 
Matthew, 18th chapter, in taking the first and se- 
cond steps with our said brother Stone, but without 
obtaining any satisfaction. Therefore the subscri- 
ber now presents this eomplaint to the association, 
desiring them to deal with our said brother Stone 
agreeably to the rules of the gospel. 

" DANIEL PARKER. 

" For proof, brothers Harvey, Starr, Prentice,. 
&c. &c. 

" Sharon, June 30//*, 1815." 

A copy of the original was presented to Mr. 
Stone eight days before the session of the association, 

Complaint against Mr. Starr. 
" To the North Association of Litchfield county ; 
to be convened, by adjournment, at the meeting- 
house in Ellsworth society, in Sharon, on the 
second Tuesday of July, viz. the 11th, 1815. 
" The subscriber begs leave to state to the as- 
sociation, that our brother, Rev. Peter Starr, e c 



70 

Warren, in said Litchfield county, did, on the 23d 
day of May last past, proceed to take the first step 
with the subscriber, on the alleged ground of an 
offence committed by the subscriber, against John 
Tallmadge, Esq. of said Warren, purporting to be 
of a highly criminal nature ; and on the 24th of said 
May last past, accompanied by our brethren Rev. 
Timothy Stone and Rev. Charles Prentice, our 
said brother Starr proceeded to take the second 
step with the subscriber, en the alleged grievance 
already referred to; and notwithstanding all the 
efforts made by the subscriber to satisfy our bro- 
ther Starr, that the charge had no just foundation, 
yet it did not appear to give satisfaction to him. A 
few days subsequent to the taking of the aforesaid 
steps, the subscriber received a letter from John 
Tallmadge, Esq. unsolicited, which said letter is 
ready to be exhibited before the said association, 
purporting, that the said John Tallmadge, Esq. had 
informed our said brother Starr, previously to his 
taking the first and second steps with the subscri- 
ber, that he, (who according to the article of charge, 
must be the person aggrieved, if any one,) had no 
ground of grievance, and was for himself satisfied ; 
and that after our said brother Starr had taken the 
first and second steps with the subscriber, he again 
called on the said John Tallmadge^ Esq. relative 
to the alleged grievance, when the said Tallmadge 
again repeated to our said bi other Starr, his full 
belief that no fraud or evil was intended by the sub- 
scriber. 

" The subscriber now makes complaint to this 
association, that by reason of the efforts made by 
our said brother Starr to commence a deal, where 
no grievance was acknowledged on the part of him 
who, if there was any grievance, must be himself 
aggrieved, but directly asserted to our said brother 
Starr the contrary, previously to our said brother 
Starr's taking the first and second steps on the al- 
leged grievance ; which said conduct of our brother 



ft 

Starr contributed to the injury of the subscriber^ 
in a way calculated to affect his moral character., 
excite unreasonable suspicion in the public mind, 
and seriously to affect the subscriber in a trial now 
pending before this association, in which he is de- 
fendant : which conduct of our said brother Starr 
appears to the subscriber to be highly criminal, and 
in violation of most, if not all the following direc- 
tions of Scripture: viz. 1 Peter iv. 15. ' or a busy 
body in other men's matters." Matthew vii. 12. 
' All things whatsoever ye would that men should 
do unto you, do ye even so unto them.' Rom. xiii. 
10. « Love worketh no ill to his neighbour.' Luke 
vi. 31. ' As ye would that men should do to you, do 
ye also to them.' And James iv. 11. ' Speak not 
evil one of another, brethren.' 

" On the foregoing statement and charge, the sub- 
scriber has proceeded to take the first and second 
steps with our said brother Starr, agreeably to the 
rule pointed out for our observance, in cases of of- 
fence, in the 18th chapter of Matthew, without ob- 
taining any satisfaction ; and now desires the asso- 
ciation to examine into this statement and charge, 
and thus deal with our said brother Starr, agreeably 
to the ruks of the gospel. 

" DANIEL PARKER. 

" For proof, the brethren who accompanied in 
the second step, and the letter of Esq. Tallmadge. 

" Sharon, June 30th, 1815. 

A copy of the foregoing complaint was duly ser- 
ved. 



m 



SECTION II. 

A few days previous to my impending trial, one 
of the deacons of the church in Ellsworth informed 
me, the Rev. Mr, Starr had sent a request to the 
inhabitants in the vicinity of Ellsworth meeting- 
house, that no arrangements need be made by them, 
even to prepare a dinner for the association, at their 
adjourned meeting, as they probably should not 
tarry long enough to dine. I inquired of this dea- 
con, if he knew whether they had adopted a similar 
principle with those who, on a former occasion, had 
" bound themselves with an oath, that they would 
neither eat nor drink till they had slain Paul ?" As 
the period of time between 1 1 o'clock, the hour of 
adjournment, and dinner time would be short, I 
thought they must be very expeditious to investi- 
gate and decide on what they had termed very 
weighty charges, in which the gospel ministry, the 
interests of religion, and individual reputation, were 
deeply interested. To which he replied, he knew 
not the motive. 

The association had adopted a rule, that no per- 
son should be employed, as counsel, in any eccle- 
siastical trial before them, who had not made a pro- 
fession of the Christian religion. To obtain able 
counsel, therefore, I sent to the distance of about 
sixty miles, to procure the Hon. Roger M. Sher- 
man, Esq. who^ having been an officer in the churchy 
might, I apprehended, be admitted. I also em- 
ployed John Elmore, Esq. who resided at the dis- 
tance of about twenty miles. 

But while trials in rapid succession assailed me, 
it pleased the God of infinite grace and condescen- 
sion to shed down the influences of his Holy Spirit. 
My school, at that time, was composed of from 
sixty to seventy members. Among these endeared, 
youth did the Divine Spirit, in wonderful mercy, 
deign to take up his residence. About the first c£ 



T3 

July, the still small voice seemed evidently to ad- 
dress them by his convicting influences. Very 
soon a season of solemnity, awe, and trembling, was 
exhibited, which undoubtedly afforded a faint re- 
semblance of the solemn scene which will be pre- 
sented, in that dread hour, when the assembled uni- 
verse will stand around the bar of their finalJudge ? 
and listen to the amazingly interesting destinies of 
eternity. Indeed, it seemed, for several days, as 
if the judgment was in reality set and the books 
opened. A deep and pungent sense of the awful 
depravity and guilt of many, led them to exclaim^ 
with heartfelt solicitude, " what shall we do to be 
saved?" The scene was truly such as the powers 
of language are incompetent to describe. These 
beloved youths who, but a few days before, were 
thoughtless and unconcerned, and engaged in their 
accustomed activity of mirth and juvenile diver- 
sions, were now solemn as the house of death. 
Probably twenty or more were under powerful con- 
victions, many others excited to some degree of 
solicitude, and all solemnized. No noise, wildness, 
or disorder, marked their conduct. The once neg- 
lected Scriptures were now their constant com- 
panion, when they were not engaged in religious de- 
votions, or listening to instructions. Such were the 
dealings of Jehovah, eminently verifying his en- 
couraging promise, " those that seek me early, shall 
find me." Within the period of about ten days* 
eight or ten of these endeared pupils had been per- 
mitted to hope in the mercy of God, through a cru- 
cified Saviour, and the work appeared evidently to 
be progressing in the school. 

In the midst of this season of refreshing, the time 
had arrived for the meeting of the association. It 
was indeed painful, that the mind should be called 
from an attendance to these marvellous displays of 
grace and reconciliation, to roam on those unwel- 
come objects, the effects of singular efforts, and un- 
precedented combinations. To my counsel, oh 



74 

their arrival, I remarked, that in view of the won- 
derful dealings of God, with the dear youth com- 
mitted to my care and instruction, I knew not how 
to divert my feelings or mind from their infinitely 
interesting concerns, even sufficiently to give them 
a history of the subjects speedily to be brought to 
trial ; that I would cheerfully make almost any sa- 
crifice, if it might spare me the unpleasant task ; 
and, that I felt it to be of little consequence to me, 
what should be the result of the association, if their 
proceedings and efforts might not impede the work 
of grace among my pupils. 

The hour of eleven, on the 2d day of July, had 
now arrived. I was present with my counsel at the 
appointed place of meeting. Most of the members 
of the association had convened. Mr. Harvey, 
though not the active prosecutor on paper, yet ge- 
nerally considered, by those acquainted with the 
real circumstances, to be the efficient one, had em- 
ployed the Rev. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield, and 
a member of Litchfield south association, as coun- 
sel for the prosecution. As these Rev. gentlemen 
had not yet arrived, a motion was made, the meet- 
ing being not yet opened, for an adjournment of one 
hour. It was assigned to me, as a reason, that 
fears were entertained, should an adjournment not 
prevail, that I might call the trial, and before the 
arrival of their counsel might possibly nonsuit 
them. A motion was of course made, that instead 
of an adjournment, an hour might be spent in prayer, 
in reference to the subject for which we had assem- 
bled ; to which I subjoined the request, that some 
serious youth in the vicinity, (carefully withhold- 
ing the term of my school, for the seriousness of 
that region was confined exclusively to the mem- 
bers of it,) might have an interest in the prayers 
that were to be offered. The Rev. Samuel J, 
Mills, being the eldest divine present, was called 
upon to make the first prayer. At the close of 
which, the Rev. Charles Prentice arose and observ- 



lb 

ed that he had heard nothng of the revival in my 
school until he had arrived at that place, and made 
the request that I would give an account of the re- 
vival. The Rev. David L. Perry instantly arose 
and objected, saying it was strictly improper for 
me to utter a word on the subject. The Rev. 
Timothy Stone immediately followed him, with the 
observation, that it would be improper for Mr. 
Parker to "give any account of it" — he wished that 
t^e Rev. Mr. Lyman, (my successor,) would give 
a relation of it. A considerable number of people 
had assembled in the meeting house. Every coun- 
tenance appeared instantly to fall, except, perhaps^ 
those of the two last speakers. Silence and con- 
sternation reigned for a time, and many of my pu- 
pils, with throbbing hearts, were present to witness 
the extraordinary transaction ! Words could not 
describe my emotions ! I reflected, do you claim 
to be the heralds of the cross, the messengers of 
peace and reconciliation to a lost world, and yet ob- 
ject to one, sustaining the highly resposible station , 
of a minister of Christ, giving a relation of the won- 
derful dealings of God to perishing souls who are 
placed under his care, when you professedly re- 
joice to hear of a soul born into the kingdom of the 
Redeemer ? Do you imagine it might soften the 
asperities which any combined efforts may have 
excited, and which you may wish to be retained in 
the impending trial ? And does it indeed exhibit 
the temper and disposition of him whom you pro- 
fess to call Lord ? 

After some pause, yes, solemn silence, prayer 
was resumed. Adjournment for dinner succeeded, 
On reassembling, the association was opened. I 
had in my pocket the complaints inserted in the 
preceding pages, prepared to lay before the body 
so soon as opportunity should render it suitable, 
But here a novel if not unprecedented occurrence 
took place. Immediately on the close of the prayer 
offered by the moderator, the written constitution. 



76 

both of the association and consociation, lying upon 
the table, which contained regulations for the direc- 
tion of the members, and which I had carefully- 
pursued in the course of discipline on which I had 
already entered, a verbal motion was made to alter 
the constitution. The motion was as follows : that 
every minister with a pastoral charge, shall be tried 
by the consociation, or ministers and delegates ; 
and every minister without a pastoral charge, shall 
be tried by the association, or ministers only. 
This motion was immediately seconded, and the 
vote called for and carried. 

It could hardly be said that there was time, after 
the opening of the association, for me to rise from 
my seat and place the complaints on the table, be- 
fore the constitution was altered ; of course there 
was now no place for them. It is to be recollected 
that all those against whom I had filed complaints, 
and served with copies for trial at this time, had 
pastoral charges, except myself; of course it ren- 
dered that a very convenient opportunity to pre- 
sent the new complaint of which I had been recent- 
ly served with a notice, as also a suitable and accom- 
modating time for my trial. Thus the instrument 
which had been deliberately framed to give direc- 
tions for our procedure, in order to secure our 
rights or redress our wrongs, suddenly became a 
rope of sand which dissolved at the touch. Of 
what use is a written instrument or constitution, to 
any class of people, for the security of privilege, 
property, or even life, when from the impulse of the 
moment, and perhaps to gratify human passions, it 
may in an instant, by a verbal motion, undergo a 
total pervertion, and thus the very article which 
guaranteed the protection of life itself be converted 
into the sentence of death? Have we been hereto- 
fore accustomed to so cheap and speedy alterations 
of instruments deemed thus sacred ? 

This gordian knot being severed, it appeared ne- 
cessary that some pacific overtures should be made. 



(Z 

A motion was then speedily introduced to appoint 
a committee to confer with me and endeavour to 
" compromise" all difficulties. The motion pre- 
vailed, and a committee of five was appointed. 
Lest this delegation might prove unfaithful to their 
trust, or possibly some other motive might influ- 
ence, several volunteers tendered their services 
and accompanied us to a neighbouring house, to 
which we resorted for deliberation. It occurred to 
me, that insuperable difficulties would impede, if 
not wholly exclude, a " compromise." I therefore 
suggested to the eldest of the committee, the vene- 
rable Mr. Mills, in the hearing of the others with 
their attendants, a difficulty which laboured in my* 
own mind in respect to effecting a " compromise," 
and requested his opinion relative to the correct- 
ness of my impressions. I observed I did not un- 
derstand how a compromise could be negociated, 
since, if I had been guilty of gross violations of gos- 
pel rules, it was a duty which they owed to the 
great head of the church to call me to an account, 
and deal with me agreeable to the rules of the gos- 
pel. On the contrary, if any of my fathers or 
brethren had been guilty of what I conscientiously 
viewed to be a violation of the laws of God given 
for our observance, it became a business between me 
and God, and I knew not how I could " compro- 
mise" it with man, short of the gospel requirements* 
I added if my impressions were incorrect, I wished 
them corrected. Mr. Mills replied, " It is so, I did 
not think of it before ; we cannot " compromise." 
I then observed, "gentlemen, I am now arraigned on 
a complaint of two articles of charge. I do not de- 
sire you to be confined simply to those charges. 
You have full liberty, to explore in your investiga- 
tion, e\ery maze of my life since my settlement in 
the gospel ministry ; and if any thing shall transpire 
from such an investigation of any name or kind, 
for which I ought to be called to an account, I free- 
ly pledge myself to you, that you have full liberty 

8 



78 

to enter it upon your minutes, without further cere- 
mony a ihis true, and proceed to act upon it." At 
this declaration I seemed to discover in all a down- 
cast look. We rose and repaired without delay 
before the association. The committee reported 
the inconsistency of any " compromise," and the 
trial shortly commenced. 

The 1st article of charge was taken up agreea- 
bly to the order of the complaints, as filed. The 
purport was as follows : " A breach of promise in 
not extricating myself from secular concerns in 
which I had been plunged, within eighteen months 
or two years after obtaining a dismission from my 
people, and devoting myself wholly to the minis- 
try." I claimed, as before, of Mr. Starr, that there 
had never been even the shadow of a promise 
either expressed or implied. I would cheerfully 
refer the subject to the Rev. prosecutor Mr. Starr, 
who was the moderator of the meeting at the time 
referred to. I presume all who were present at the 
trial will remember, Mr. Starr would not express 
any opinion on the subject. Messrs. Perry, Stone, 
and Harvey readily manifested a willingness to tes- 
tify on this occasion. The reader cannot have 
forgotten the efforts of Messrs. Perry and Harvey, 
at the time of my dismission, which I have already 
related as given me shortly after in a very affec- 
tionate manner by Mr. Stone, as he declared, for 
" my own safety, because they were my enemies." 
!Nor did I make the least objection to the testimony 
of either, on any ground; neither as having com- 
menced a deal with them antecedently to any hav- 
ing been commenced with myself, which would 
seem to render it unsuitable as well as immodest for 
them to act ; nor on the ground of the assertions of 
Mr. Stone, " that he had got a number of his breth- 
ren to join him," not entertaining any doubts who 
composed the affirmed league. It is a well known 
fact, that all three were exceedingly active, or rath- 
er officious. I shall but repeat a very common re- 



re 

mark made at the time, by observing that these 
Rev. gentlemen appeared not only to be judges in 
the trial, but also to discharge the arduous duties 
as counsellors, advocates, witnesses, and accusers. 
As no obstacles were suggested to impede their 
ambition and zeal, they were of course qualified. 

Mr. Stone attempted to testify, but meeting with 

some impediments he finally requested of the 

moderator the " privilege, that he might be interro- 
gated only ;" but soon relinquished his claim to 
any promise made by the defendant. 

Mr. Perry thought he remembered a promise 
made. When the question was pressed whether 
he would assert it, or be understood to convey 
that idea, his eyes indeed seemed to glance, and 
could not be caught by the inquirer. On the 
whole, he did not like to say positively ; yet did 
not appear to object to the impression being de- 
rived, that it might be, at least, implied. The re- 
mark of one not long after called upon to testify, 
may undoubtedly appear rude* When inquired 
of, whether he was willing to be qualified, he object- 
ed ; and assigned as a reason, if he were put under 
the solemnity of an oath, it was possible some 
words might slip from him improperly, as he 
feared had already taken place. 

Mr. Harvey testified. He at first seemed rath- 
er to entertain the idea of a promise expressed or 
implied ; but eventually did not appear to assert 
either. Here the testimony closed on this article 
of charge, as no others could be found who had 
derived the least impression of even an implied pro- 
mise. Thus the charge was ultimately pronoun- 
ced unsupported by evidence. 

The 2d charge next claimed attention, viz. " Un- 
faithfulness in the ministry, both before and after 
my dismission." Under any other circumstances, 
this charge, from the manner in which it was intro- 
duced, and the strictness with which it was press- 
ed, must have proved fatal. Here providence had 



80 

kindly provided for me a shield, with that which, 
if it was not before designed, appeared at least to 
be a calamity, to wit, the sting, as it was termed., 
contained in my dismission. Of the act of the 
sons of Jacob, in selling their brother Joseph, we 
read, " they meant it for evil, but God meant if for 
good." Whether this may be applicable in the 
above case, is best known to those who were active 
In its accomplishment, however candid Mr. Stone 
might have been in his relation of the transaction 
to me soon after. At any rate, it would seem that 
the subject matter of this charge, was very hastily 
introduced, and attended by forgetfulness of facts^ 
when fixed upon as effectual to disrobe me. It will 
be called to mind, that no charge at the time of my 
dismission, or any anterior period, had ever been 
suggested of ministerial unfaithfulness ; and that 
the consociation which was convened for my dis- 
mission, was a body greater than an association. 
As this body had inflicted the sting in their result, 
I could pursue the ministry as a candidate for sup- 
plies, or not, beyond the reach of censure for neg- 
lect. Hence, to exhibit a charge of unfaithfulness 
in either respect, to be tried before the association, 
was an inconsistency, and such a procedure must 
necessarily operate as an ex post facto law. Thus 
the charge was entirely undermined and lost. 

I feel it to be a duty here to remark, on account 
of the important bearings w r hich may hereafter be 
visibly traced in the general procedure, as connect- 
ing the links, a few things in relation to the Rev. Ly- 
man Beecher. He seemed very actively and zeal- 
ously to discharge the duties of counsel for the pro- 
secution. He had formerly been my classmate in 
college ; and until this time had never discovered 
any other deportment than that of a friend. 

It is obvious, as I think will appear in the sequel, 
that he was determined I should fall. Very com- 
mon declarations had, for some time, represented 
him to be the bishop of Litchfield south associa- 



81 

lion, and it was frequently observed, he appeared 
to be willing to have Mr. Harvey sustain equal 
prerogatives over Litchfield north association ; and 
as the idea prevailed with some, at least, that Mr. 
Harvey was apparently in subserviency to the 
views of Mr. Beecher, if not a memorial or syco- 
phant; if all these things were correct, it would 
seem necessary for him to use all proper endeav- 
ours to shield Mr. Harvey from censure, and sec- 
ond his efforts in the accomplishment of his 
schemes, in order to secure the maintenance of his 
own more extensive prerogatives. 

The first day of the trial,, after the investigation 
had commenced, was faithfully improved on the 
part of the prosecution, in calling upon witnesses. 
Night drawing on, Mr. Beecher observed they 
were through in calling upon witnesses. My coun- 
sel observed, if you have no further witnesses we 
shall have no need of calling upon any ; for the tes- 
timony which has already been given, has been 
wholly in our favour ; and we would cheerfully 
submit the cause to the association > Mr. Beecher 
replied, he wished to make a few observations, and 
as the day was nearly exhausted, he should re- 
quest an adjournment until the next morning. My 
counsel inquired whether he designed to call for 
further testimony. He said he did not. He was 
requested to say whether it should be understood 
that no further testimony was to be improved ; to 
which he replied, it was. An adjournment fol- 
lowed. 

The succeeding nighty as it was afterwards sta- 
ted, was spent by Messrs. Beecher and Perry, in a 
great degree sleepless, at the house of a virulent 
enemy to me, and I believe, in general estimation, 
to mankind. It would seem, u they had taken 
sweet council together," if we may judge by the 
fruits. At the opening of the session the next 
morning, Mr. Beecher desired to question a wit- 
ness> viz ; the same being at whose house he had 

8* 



82 

tarried and caucused the preceding night. He 
was reminded of his engagement, that he would 
call for no further testimony. By this he was not 
willing to be bound ; as it appeared his new associ- 
ate and coadjutor was prepared for a fresh dis- 
charge. I freely gave my assent, that he need not 
be restrained by any pledges he had made, but pro- 
ceed unlimited by his inquiries, and call on any 
witnesses for whom he had a partiality. Of course 
the subject of testimony was resumed and pursued 
for four or five hours. Great and strenuous efforts 
were made by the late nocturnal visitants, strength- 
ened by their new host, and accompanied by their 
former adherents. Various and numerous were 
their subjects of inquiry. There were some in- 
stances of individuals called upon to testify, who 
had combined ideas belonging to different subjects, 
and thus misrepresented the fact. To correct 
such mistakes, I in several instances put inquiries 
to the witnesses, whether such and such particulars 
were not distinct, and belonging to distinct sub- 
jects ; but, by being unintentionally combined, ac- 
tually misrepresented the truth. To which they 
answered in the affirmative. To these efforts to 
attain 'the light of truth, and which invariably left 
the testimony without crimination, there was oppo- 
sition made. Mr. Beecher sorely complained, and 
with much earnestness requested of the moderator, 
that I might not be permitted " to put words," as he 
expressed it, " in the witnesses mouth. " What 
other influence could be drawn from this request, 
except this, that I should not be permitted to re- 
move any imputation of guilt from the testimony 
given, however false? Such indeed was the im- 
pression I then derived ; and it would seem to be a 
rapid stride towards the establishment ©f a rule, 
that the truth should not be given in evidence, un- 
less indeed it were specially calculated to crimi- 
nate, which, to be sure, with some was obviously an 
object of deep solicitude. I could not but reflect, 



83 

are you, parson Beecher, discharging with your 
wonted zeal the high mission of Heaven, in advoca- 
ting the cause of truth and justice ; and even in* 
culcating upon your hearers the golden rule of the 
Divine Saviour ? 

Among the mass of testimony thus adduced, that 
of Mr. Philo Swift is highly deserving of notice, on 
account of its important bearings in subsequent pro- 
ceedings. Mr. Swift testified, in respect to a loan 
obtained years before, by Eri Miles & Co. at the 
Bridgport bank, that previous to obtaining the loan, 
I had called on him to endorse the said note. This, 
it appeared, was calculated to criminate me, as the 
said loan had proved highly injurious to the com- 
pany ; and by representing me as actively engaged, 
or instrumental in obtaining it, might render me 
censurable. His testimony on this subject was to 
me entirely new, and without a vestige of founda- 
tion. I inquired of Mr. Swift what he meant by 
his assertion, as I had never had any agency or 
concern in obtaining that loan. In the first place, 
his assertion would defeat itself on the ground that 
I was not a director of the company at that time, 
nor until a long period afterwards ; and that none 
but directors could have any concern with the 
transaction. 2dly. That Mr. Ezekiel St. John 
had primarily commenced the negociation for the 
loan, which he then testified. 3dly. Two of the 
then directors also testified, that they executed the 
contract and obtained the money, and that I had 
not had the least concern in the transaction. More- 
over, 4thly, Mr. Swift's name was never, by any 
person, requested on the said note. Such was the 
testimony then exhibited. Mr. Swift seemed still 
to persist in his assertion. It was wholly unac- 
countable. I was finally induced to believe he had 
associated two distinct ideas, which had produced 
this error. I therefore made inquiry of him, whe- 
ther I had ever made application to him but once 
to endorse a note, and that in tfye beginning of the 



84 

year 1810, for a private loan, which, however, was 
not obtained, and at which time he saw the names 
of two other persons on the paper which I present- 
ed 1 He answered, that I had never called on him 
but once. I now inquired of one or both of the 
gentlemen, which, I do not now distinctly recollect, 
whose names were on the paper I presented to Mr. 
Swift, to testify whether the loan for Eri Miles & 
Co. was the object for which that loan was desired, 
or even whether that company was then formed. 
It was answered in the negative. Thus it was ren- 
dered evident, his assertion was untrue. But cha- 
rity influenced me still to believe the error entirely 
unintentional, and to have arisen from his combin- 
ing two distinct things, which were now clearly 
proved to be separate, and that Mr. Swift, on re- 
flection, would feel himself greatly obliged to me for 
correcting the error, as his testimony was given un- 
der the solemnity of an oath. His after conduct, 
however, afforded evidence to the contrary, as 
there will be occasion hereafter to notice. 

It is a fact, I presume, yet well remembered, that 
at my endeavours to correct the error already men- 
tioned, and develope the light ef truth, Mr. Beecher 
severely frowned, and requested that I might be 
prevented from making inquiries of the witnesses. 

It was again announced, they were through with 
witnesses. An adjournment for dinner followed. 
On reassembling, as I had not forgotten the declara- 
tion of the T&ev. Mr. Stone, made about the first of 
the preceding month, and it being already rendered 
sufficiently apparent " who his brethren weFe that 
had joined him," I took occasion to remark to the 
moderator, that I had understood Mi\ Stone had 
prejudged the merits of the case now pending. I 
wished the privilege to ascertain the fact. If he 
had, I should object to his sitting as a judge in the 
trial. If he had not, I should offer no objections to 
his sitting. I therefore requested permission te 
ask him the question. It was granted, I then m* 



85 

quked, " Mr. Stone, have you not made the decla? 
rafion, calculating with mathematical exactness, 
that you would have me silenced in eight days, and 
you had got a number of your brethren to join 
jouV He replied, " no ; have you heard so V 9 
I answered, " I have." He replied, " I have not 
said it." I desisted from further inquiry, as he 
peremptorily denied it ; and immediately withdrew 
to employ a person to go to the distance of about 
eight miles, and procure the witness without de- 
lay, from whom I had received this declaration. 
The witness had assured me, that Mr. Stone had 
made this declaration to him, in the witness's house, 
after the close of public worship, on the Sabbath 
but one preceding the session of the association at 
Burlington. The witness duly arrived. On his en- 
tering the house, I requested ©f the moderator, that 
he might be qualified and testify, as he was my wit- 
Bess in proof of Mr. Stone's declaration. This 
was accordingly done, in which he repeated pre- 
cisely the expression I had before used. Mr. 
Stone could not, nor would he, attempt to impeach 
the veracity of Mr. Medad Allen. He immediate- 
ly arose and informed the moderator, there was but 
one witness against him. He should still claim his 
seat ; adding, by the mouth of two or three wit- 
nesses every word shall be established." Unpa- 
ralled impudence ! if not savage barbarity ! After 
a few moments, I looked around and saw a number 
of persons in the house belonging to his churchy 
and many who were not members ; and had no 
doubt others had heard similar declarations, but 
knew not on whom to call. I requested that Dr. 
Calhoon, whom I knew to be on friendly terms with 
Mr. Stone, yet had no knowledge that he had heard 
similar declarations, might be qualified. This be- 
ing done, he testified he had frequently heard Mr. 
Stone speak to the same effect as was testified by 
Mr. Allen. A ghastly paleness instantly brooded 
upon the countenance of Mr. Stone, and by reason 



e£ an immediate request, that lie might have the 
privilege of withdrawing, he left the house. The 
singular remark was at this time said to be made, 
by one of his parishioners who witnessed the scene, 
" it was a pity there w 7 as not an auger hole bored 
into Mr. Stone's head and some brains infused. '* 
At his departure he was followed by an expreacher, 
who took the liberty to say to him, Mr. Stone, you 
have lied here to day. It appeared Mr. Stone was 
not prepared for a reply. In truth, I pitied the de- 
jected man. 

It became now a subject of inquiry by my coun- 
sel, whether I should not ascertain who Mr. Stone's 
brethren were, who, he had boasted, w r ere joined 
with him. I objected to the inquiry, as probably 
every person in the house was well satisfied on this 
subject ; and I w r ould not debar them from their an- 
ticipated pleasures in voting against me. 

Mr. Beecher had already commenced his argu- 
ment for the prosecution. The vehemence and 
energy with which he proceeded, clearly evinced 
his desired object. I presume it will not be denied, 
by a very numerous assembly, that be confined his 
remarks chiefly to three general heads. 

1st. That I had left the ministry to teach a 
school. 

2dly. That I had added house to house to ac- 
commodate my school — and 

3dly. That I had dealt at banks. 

On the first particular he very largely expatiated. 
It w r ould seem from his remarks, that if I had been 
guilty of the heinous crime of murder, it would 
have borne no proportion to the awful enormity 
with which I was now justly chargeable. 

On the second he bestowed similar exertions. 

The third received equal reprehension, with ma- 
ny and apparently poignant terrors, at the idea of a* 
payment falling due at a bank. On this subject he 
narrated his own narrow and well-nigh destructive 
escape, for which be was solely indebted to the 



kindness of his endorser, on a note, as lie said, of 
one hundred dollars, which happened to fall due in 
his absence, while devoutly accomplishing his mi- 
nisterial domestic missions, and thus by the benevo- 
lence of his underwriter was rescued from ruin. 
And sooner, yes, sooner than he should consent to 
any further dealings at the bank, by which he 
should be jeopardized, he would immediately re- 
turn home and sell his three and a half acres. 

My counsel replied, on the first head, it bad 
long been a custom in Connecticut to call ministers, 
even from their pastoral charge, to take the charge 
of seminaries. Moreover, in the present case, I 
had engaged in it at the urgent request of all the 
minis-ters around me, and for reasons well under- 
stood by all. On the second head, it was indispen- 
sibly necessary to erect buildings for the conve- 
nience of the school, without which the scholars 
could not be furnished with accommodations, and 
the object of the school must fail. Indeed, the in- 
quiry might not be inapplicable, whether it would 
seem more improper that the defendant should add 
house to house, but far less so under his circum- 
stances, than for the Rev. Counsel for the prosecu- 
tion, who had but recently performed the same act 
himself, which, by his neighbours, would undoubt- 
edly be deemed wholly unnecessary, and which 
greatly disfigured his dwelling ? On the third 
head, dealing at banks was extensively practised. 
But few persons, probably, could be found doing 
business to any considerable extent, who would not 
find it necessary occasionally to resort to bank ac- 
commodations. In the case of the defendant it 
would be the more necessary, on account of jthe 
probably unequalled kindnesses and accommoda- 
tions he had rendered,, arising from the pressing en- 
treaties of individuals, and relying on the punctual 
fulfilment of their engagements which they had fail- 
ed to accomplish. And the inquiry may be made-, 
what harm arises from a person's dealing with a 



bank legally authorized ? Banks are generally es- 
tablished among all Christian and civilized nations. 
If improper to deal with them, why are they legally 
established ? And if improper, why do ministers 
and ecclesiastical bodies vest their funds in bank 
stock? Is it that their funds shall lie dormant? 
or, that they may be sure of a better premium on 
their funds, and a more punctual remittance of it, 
than rated by law on private loans ? Is a deacon 
or any officer of the church censurable, because he 
loans his money at a rate per cent, established by 
the laws of his country ? 

It was now nearly night, wiien the cause was sub- 
mitted to the consideration and decision of the 
association. All but the association withdrew, Mr. 
Beecher soon called at my room, and was now, for 
the first time since the commencement of the trial, 
very affable and complaisant. On his entrance into 
the room, I presented him with a cup of cold water, 
it being a sultry summer's day, which I assured 
him was all I could there bestow; but if he would 
accompany me to my house and spend the night, I 
would cheerfully welcome him to such fare as my 
impoverished habitation afforded. He thanked me 
for my offer, assured me he would gladly accept it, 
and that he was desirous of an opportunity to con- 
verse with the serious youth of my school. This 
was the first lisp I had heard him utter relative to 
the seriousness. Soon we were informed the asso- 
ciation would not result that night, but adjourn to 
meet the next morning. We immediately retired. 

On the following morning one of my counsel, who 
lodged with Mr. Beecher, informed me, he had 
much conversation with him before they slept. His 
language to me, if my memory is correct, and my 
mind was very strongly impressed at the relation, 
, was as follows ? 

Counsel. " Mr. Beecher, do you think the as- 
sociation will censure Mr. Parker?" 



89 

Mr. B. m No, there is nothing for which they 
can censure him." 

C. " Is that your opinion ?" 

Mr. B. " Clearly so, as there was no testimony 
against him." 

C. " Pray, sir, why then did you use so much 
vehemence and severity in your argument this af- 
ternoon, knowing him to be an innocent man V* 

Mr. B. " O, I was only playing attorney." 

C. " But I had supposed you gentlemen of the 
cloth would, on moral principles, have withheld 
such severities !" 

Mr. B. " O, I was only acting the part of an 
attorney." 

Truly astonishing, thus to sport with interests 
both sacred and human. 

After breakfast, Mr. Beecher expressed much 
satisfaction at his interview with my pupils, thank- 
ed me for my hospitality, and urged my calling and 
putting up with him whenever I should be at Litch- 
field ; at the same time upbraiding me with having 
neglected to call upon him heretofore. Thus, with 
apparent cordiality, he departed. But one must 
have been short-sighted indeed, not to have seen 
through the veil. 

A line very shortly reached me from a friend, 
informing me, my presence was necessary at 
the meeting-house, although the association was not 
yet in session, as renewed efforts were stated to be 
in operation against me. I went immediately on. 
It was obviou3, from communications made to me, 
that there appeared to be no testiaiony which could 
militate against me, either in support of the charges 
exhibited, or from any other investigation. Yet 
certain individuals could not be pacified, but were 
determined that I should be silenced. The asso- 
ciation very soon came together. The efforts 
of Messrs. Perry and Harvey, receiving occasional 
strength from Messrs. Prentice and Blair, were stre- 
nuous. The opposition of Mr. Perry, particularly^ 

9 



90 

was so great, that Mr. Mills, having supposed Mr. 
Perry to have gone out of the house, which how- 
ever was not the case, observed to the moderator, 
" he could not account for Mr. Perry's hostility to 
Mr. Parker." Mr. Perry instantly replied, " he 
had no hostility at all." 

Soon a delegation was sent to me, to know whe- 
ther I was willing to give up my ministerial cre- 
dentials, and let this end the trial? I refused; stat- 
ing, if I had justly forfeited them, they were bound 
in duty to take them away. I should not willingly 
relinquish them. The returns were made, but it 
seemed the combination was not to be pacified. 
Delegation succeeded delegation, but to no pur- 
pose. Among these, were the Rev. Messrs. Mills 
and Hallock, of whom, on asking me if on the whole, 
under existing circumstances, I had not better re- 
linquish my credentials, I inquired whether they 
wished my lips sealed in this interesting season of in- 
quiry among the dear youth committed to my care 
and instruction, when they were daily making the 
inquiry, with the most anxious solicitude, " what 
they shall do to be saved?" To which inquiry 
neither made the least reply, but with much appa- 
rent feeling, turned instantly about and repaired to 
the session. 

As it was obvious a sacrifice must be made, I 
consulted with my counsel, and it was concluded it 
would be better to suffer, than to oppose the known 
V hostilities" of certain individuals, whose rapacity, 
it would seem, was not to be allayed. According- 
ly one of my counsel drew up a paper, which I sub- 
scribed and sent in to the association, the purport 
of which, as nearly as I can recollect, I will cheer- 
fully give. I requested the original to be imme- 
diately returned by the register of the association, 
who was Mr. Harvey, so soon as he should have 
recorded it, which, however, has never been done, 
although more than three years have elapsed. One 
special reason for that request was, that -I might as- 



91 

certain whether it was correctly recorded; as I had 
known of an incorrect entry made on the records 
kept by Mr. Harvey, previous to that time, in rela- 
tion to myself, from which circumstance I had just, 
reasons to apprehend it might be so in the present 
case. The paper purported, that I would cheer- 
fully acknowledge that I had been extensively 
plunged into the cares of the world, (which, how- 
ever, was not originally any concern of my own 
seeking, but occasioned by solicitations of my fa- 
thers and brethren in the ministry, and arising 
from excessive benevolence exercised towards 
them and others,) which was calculated to bring 
reproach upon the Christian ministry, for which I 
would cheerfully acknowledge that I had done 
wrong, (and no one had more reason sincerely to 
regret it, on every consideration.) Moreover, for 
the time being, I signified that 1 should preach to 
iny school only, and occasional lectures. These, 
so far as I can recollect, embraced all the points. 
It may not be unsuitable to mention here one 
particular circumstance more, as it is calculated to 
delineate still further efforts made in the general 
procedure. I was informed, by a respectable cler- 
gyman, that it was contemplated, and temporarily 
agreed upon, to introduce a charge against me, on 
the ground that I was a member of the masonic in- 
stitution, and often delivered public discourses on 
festival occasions ; and also presided in some of the 
lodges. This, it was stated to me, was designed to 
be made effectual to disrobe me. But my informant 
added, that on further weighing the subject, fears 
were entertained that my masonic brethren, who 
were very numerous, might rally at so bold an ,ef- 
fort, and eventually the evil recoil on themselves ; 
and thus they forbore the attempt. It seems, how- 
ever, that an aged minister of the body, the Rev. 
Mr. Hallock, was designated or volunteered his ser- 
vices, to confer with or lecture me on the subject. 
He did not neglect the opportunity of improving 



92 

ihe convenient season of the trial, to fulfil the du 
lies of his trust. He observed to me, that some of 
his brethren felt aggrieved that I was a mason, al- 
though I had united with the institution several 
years before I entered upon the ministry, and, as 
he expressed himself, " was the high priest of a 
chapter and right worshipful master of a lodge, and 
often officiated on public celebrations," &c. and 
proceeded to offer some objections relative to the 
institution. I inquired of him, whether he was ac- 
quainted with the institution? He said he was not. 
I asked him on what data he could judge and con- 
demn an institution, of which he was entirely igno- 
rant? He did not attempt to assert. I did pre- 
sume it could not be from the circumstance of the 
lodge, in the town in which he was settled, making 
a donation about that time, if I rightly remember, 
of fifty dollars to the Bible Society of Connecticut. 
I very soon made the inquiry of him, if he had pe- 
rused the copy of a printed sermon with which I 
had presented him a little time before; which ser- 
mon I had delivered at the public installation of a 
chapter a few months preceding. He told me he 
had. I inquired of him, whether there was any 
thing in that sermon contrary to the letter and 
spirit of the gospel? He assured me there was 
not. I put the inquiry to him, whether he could 
probably write a better gospel sermon? He re- 
plied, no. I then asked him, whether he supposed 
lie could equal it ? He replied in the negative. I 
begged of him, that he would not condemn that 
which he acknowledged he could not equal himself, 
relative to the gospel. Thus the conversation 
ended. 

About one o'clock, on the third day of the ses- 
sion, the association came to a result. The first 
article of charge they pronounced unsupported by 
evidence ; and the second article beyond their 
reach, having long since been foreclosed. Hence 
their charges were dismissed. They also publish* 



93 

ed, that they found no cause for inserting any new 
charge, from any thing which had transpired from 
their very extensive investigation. 

Although such was the decision of the body, yet 
all the members did not vote in favour of it. There 
had, I believe, been but one opinion entertained, by 
^11 who witnessed the trial, how the votes would 
stand in the result. And this opinion appeared to 
have been adopted shortly after the trial commen- 
ced. Indeed, multitudes expressed their opinion 
openly, and some even reduced to writing the 
names of the members in affirmative and negative 
columns, in which there was an entire unanimity. 
Those who were in the negative, and consequently 
opposed to the decision, were Messrs. Perry, Pren- 
tice, Harvey, and Blair. Mr. Stone, having abdi- 
cated his seat, could not vote. The number in the 
affirmative, if I mistake not, was nine. 

Thus the mountains had laboured, and the de- 
fendant was not only entirely acquitted from the 
charges, which combinedefforis had laboriously in- 
troduced and vigorously pursued, but also from any 
new ground or cause of charge, of any name or 
kind. 

The result of the association being made public, 
• Mr. Stone immediately called on me and requested 
an interview, in the hearing of Messrs. Mills and 
Hallock, to which I assented. He stated that his 
object was, "to convince me he had not lied the 
day before." He observed, he did not recollect, 
when I challenged him from his seat, that he had 
ever uttered such an expression - f and supposed, if 
he had said any thing which would preclude him 
from a seat, that I had the testimony to prove the 
fact already present, and therefore thought proper 
to fling the burden of proof on me. I replied, I 
had not the proof at hand, but was obliged to em- 
ploy a man, at the expense of two dollars, to pro- 
cure the witness in a given period of time. He re- 
plied ? " I mia;ht have known you would have done 

9# * 



94 

it — that your perseverance would have surmounted 
all obstacles ;" and said, if I remember his expres- 
sions with accuracy, " Brother Parker, I have done 
wrong, in a great many particulars relative to this 
business. I am sincerely sorry for it. I ask your 
forgiveness ; and can you forgive me?" At these 
declarations he freely wept. To whom I replied, 
" yes, I can cheerfully forgive you, provided yjur 
confessions are sincere, and your future conduct 
shall evince the sincerity of your confession," 

Soon after leaving the meeting-house, where the 
session had been holden, Mr. Starr approached me, 
ill company, if I rightly remember, with Messrs* 
Mills and Gillet, and extending his hand towards 
me, while the tears gently flowed down his aged 
cheeks, said, " Brother Parker, I hope you will 
overlook and forgive me, in the part I have taken 
relative to the late transactions, and not lay any 
thing to my charge. 55 I informed him, as in the 
commencement of his labour with me, that he pro- 
bably would never have engaged in his undertakings 
had not an obvious advantage been taken of his se*- 
cond childhood. 

Messrs. Perry and Harvey next approached me 
in a Pharisaical manner, to this effect, " I hope 
you will now be satisfied, and no longer indulge any 
unfavourable impressions towards us. 55 They ap- 
peared urgent to press the reply, that I was satis- 
fied in respect to them. I signified to them, it was 
far otherwise ; that they had not only rendered no 
satisfaction at all, but that I considered their guilt 
to be greatly enhanced. Thus all dispersed. 

The expenses which had accrued to me in this 
trial, (reader, would not the term persecution be 
even mild,) for counsel, witnesses, &c. &c. exceed- 
ed one hundred and fifty dollars. Impoverished as 
I had become, I knew not how possibly to defray 
the charges. I reflected on the inconsistency of 
man ! I have been charged with criminality for be- 
ing plunged into the cares of the world, and that? 



95 

by the very persons who have been chiefly instru- 
mental in bringing these evils upon me. And now, 
to vindicate and maintain my rights, which have 
been assailed in an unprecedented manner, and ap- 
parently to shield others from the stroke of justice, 
I must be plunged still deepen Is not this a prac- 
tical illustration of total depravity? 

But the storm, it was fondly hoped, had subsided. 
A merciful Providence had kindly interposed to 
avert the ruin with which I had been threatened to 
be overwhelmed. Not only were the vigorous ex- 
ertions and strenuous labours of a combination 
entirely defeated, by the exhibition of truth and 
facts fully presented before them to thwart their 
machinations, but in the investigation so extensive- 
ly pursued, the calumny and slanders which had 
been put in circulation as a seemingly necessary 
concomitant of a failure, and which in that case ap- 
peared to be eagerly grasped at by some, were put 
to awful silence. Moreover, the God of Heaven 
seemed signally to exhibit his smiles, in selecting 
that trying moment to display the riches of grace 
and mercy among the endeared youth placed under 
my instruction. The special seriousness had com- 
menced in my school but a short period before, 
and was exclusively confined to it, in that region of 
country, without the exception of a solitary indivi- 
dual. Nor, during this season of refreshing, was 
there known to be a single instance in the parish or 
town, so far as my knowledge has extended, in 
which any one hopefully became a subject of di- 
vine grace, or even became a subject of conviction, 
who was not a member of my school. These in- 
dications might seem to manifest the displeasure of 
Heaven against their procedure. Indeed, it would 
seem that the Rev. Mr. Mills entertained the same 
views relative to these appearances. It was stated, 
that on his departure from the trial, he called to visit 
his brother in a neighbouring town. As he was 
flighting from his horse, he was met by his brother. 



96 

who, anxious to know the result of the trial, imme- 
diately presses the question, " what have you been 
doing at Ellsworth ?" The Rev. Divine arswered, 
" doing ? why, we went there to do, but God got 
there first, and we could not do any thing." 

The fears which had been enterained previous 
to the trial were now realized ; viz : that an exhibi- 
tion of the combined exertions which had evident- 
ly been entered into by some, together with the de- 
velopement of unaccountable proceedings, which 
must necessarily lead to a painful discovery of hu- 
man depravity, clad in sacerdotal robes, would im- 
pede the awakening. It was obvious the serious- 
ness among the youth had greatly diminished. Al- 
though there had been from fifteen to twenty cler- 
gymen in the vicinity, during the lengthy trial, yet 
not a solitary sermon, to my knowledge, was deliv- 
ered, even within the parish. This consideration 
was truly lamentable, as many precious youth were 
hungering for the word of life ; and it was, per- 
haps, the only instance with which I had ever 
been acquainted, since my connection with that bo- 
dy, where there had been a failure of preaching, 
and oftentimes, repeatedly, when they assembled, 
even where there was no special seriousness. 
This declension in the revival continued about two 
weeks, and it was greatly feared the cloud was soon 
to pass over. But God, who is rich in mercy, 
again revived his work of grace. For a time it be- 
came evidently more pungent and extensive than 
before ; and continued until the vacation, in the be- 
ginning of the following September. During this 
interesting season, the number of about twenty-five 
were hopefully brought to an acceptance of offered 
mercy through the blood of the Saviour. 

Within the period of two or three days after the 
trial, I was informed a story was prevalent in Sha- 
ron street, and the vicinity of Amenia, that I had 
been silenced by the association. It would seem 
extraordinary that such a report should be hazard- 



97 

ed so near at hand, especially where there were so 
many witnesses who heard the result, which was 
directly the reverse, and where it might so easily 
be retraced to its source. Some weeks after, a res- 
pectable neighbour of mine, Capt. R. St. John* 
was addressed by Capt. Hamlin, a member of the 
church in Sharon, to this effect : " Your neigh- 
bour, Mr. Parker, I understand was silenced at 
the late trial." Capt. St. John answered, " no, it 
was not so." Capt. H. replied " yes he was, for 
Mr. Perry told me so, on the same day," or, the 
day following " his return from the trial." Capt. 
St. J. informed him it was not the case, for he at- 
tended during the trial, and was present at the re- 
sult, and he was entirely acquitted from the char- 
ges exhibited against him." Capt. H. answered, 
" he certainly ivas silenced, for Mr. Perry told 
him so on his return" Such was the information 
1 derived from Capt. St. John. 

Not long after, I called at the house of a respect- 
able matron of Sharon street, who informed me she 
had supposed I was silenced for some weeks after 
the trial ; and had not received information to the 
contrary, until a few days before. She observed 
that Capt. Hamlin had called at her house, wheth- 
er on the day, or the day after the trial closed, I do 
not recollect, and informed her he had just seen Mr. 
Perry, who told him that I was silenced. Such 
was the substance, if not the phraseology, w r hich I 
received from her. 

In the mean time the intelligence had reached me, 
that a similar report was prevalent in Goshen. Tins 
came to me from a former pupil of mine, who in- 
formed me he had received it from another of my 
former pupils, who lived near to Mr. Harvey ; and 
it was with difficulty, as he stated to me, that the 
former, who knew the fact to be otherwise, could 
convince the latter it was untrue, as the source of 
information from which it was derived, was so au- 
thentic. Indeed, it seemed by information, tha- 



98 



such a report was industriously spread to a consid- 
erable extent of country. 



SECTION IIL 

In December, 1314, I received the following 
certificate of my regular standing in the ministry, 
from the Rev. S. J. Mills of Torringford, who was, 
by the appointment of the general association of 
Connecticut, the committee of certification for the 
north association of Litchfield county. It was 
given at my request, as I then contemplated a jour- 
ney to the westward the following spring or sum- 
mer. This certifies what my standing then was, 
in the estimation of the committee, and the proprie- 
ty of it was never called in question by the associa- 
tion, to my knowledge. 

" This may certify whom it may concern, that 
the Rev. Mr. Parker, of Ellsworth, in Litchfield 
county, state of Connecticut, is in good and regular 
standing in the Gospel Ministry ; and as such is 
hereby recommended to the kind notice and Chris- 
tian friendship of the churches, wherever Provi- 
dence may cast his lot. 

" Certified by SAMUEL J. MILLS, 

Committee of certification for Litchfield county. 

" Dated at Torringford, Dec. Uth, 1814." 

In July, 1815, I received the following letter 
from the Rev. Mr. Mills, with an inclosed certifi- 
cate, both of which I insert verbatim. 

" Torringford July nth, 1815. 
" Dear Brother- After I left Sharon [July 
13] I felt in, measure embarrassed, in regard to a 



99 

certificate I had sent on to you, of your regular 
standing in the Ministry. It bore on my mind, Mr* 
Beecher of Litchfield, was the Committee of certi- 
fication for Litchfield South. I called, and con- 
sulted him, on my way home. He was decided in 
it, that J must recall that certificate, and present 
you with such an one as I send enclosed. You 
will therefore consider the other, in your posses- 
sion, as laid under an Embargo. My kindest re* 
spects to Mrs. Parker. Yours affectionately. 

"SAML. J.MILLS. 

" Allow me to say one word further. In such a. 
world as this, through which we are passing, and 
thousands of eyes looking on us, from this world, 
and the other, is it possible for us, to exercise at 
any moment, greater caution, and prudence, than 
would be suitable for us ? Was sorry after I wrote 
the preceeding lines, but it was the impulse of the 
moment, conclude on the whole, you will have no 
objection at my leaving them as they are. 

" Rev. Mr. Daniel Parker." 

The following was the inclosed certificate. 

" This certifies, that the Rev. Daniel Parker, ia 
a Minister of the Gospel, in regular standing, with 
this exception, that he is not to preach as a candi- 
date for settlement, untill he shall have extricated 
himself from certain secular embarrassments, in 
which he has for some time been involved. 

" Certified by me, SAML. J. MILLS, 
M Committee of certification for Litchfield North* 

" Dated at Tor ring ford, July \Sth, 1815." 

On the receipt and perusal of the above commu- 
nications, my surprize was indescribable. I knew 
not the meaning of the letter, as it appears really 
unintelligible ; or Mr. Mills's authority for his ex- 
pression, " he is not topreach as a candidate for set- 
tlement /"&c. I reflected, I had been liberated from 



100 

the charges exhibited against me, at my late trial ; 
and the association declared in their result, that 
they found no cause Jor inserting any thing new. 
although they had taken an extensive range in their 
inquiries. I also reflected, the above certificate 
indeed certifies my regular standing in the Minis- 
try, equally with the first ; and that I have full per- 
mission to officiate as a gospel minister, "except to 
preach as a candidate for settlement /" and why 
this prohibition ? and whence arises this prerogative 
in Mr. Mills, when not a syllable had been uttered 
by the association on the subject, while in the late 
session ; else, why should the thought have occur- 
red on his return home, and he have digressed from 
his road to call on Mr. Beecher for direction ? Nor 
would it seem to be an authorised act, without a pre- 
vious censure passed upon me by the body, who 
were not again assembled until some weeks, and 
even months, after the receipt of the above letter. 
Mr. Mills expressly declares, he called on Mr. 
Beecher, the committee of certification for Litch- 
field South, for consultation. Mr. Beecher was not 
even a member of the same body. What preroga- 
tives had he to dictate to another Associaion, or to 
an individual of another body, and thus deal out 
inquisitorial injunctions, which could be authorized 
only by an act of the body itself, and that predicated 
on a censure ? yet the writer says, " Mr* Beecher 
was decided in it, that he must recat the first cer- 
tificate, and present me with such an one as he en- 
closed." Hence he pronounces the first laid under 
an "embargo." By what authority? Not from 
Bonaparte, although he once claimed to have the 
disposal of Papd supremacy ; but from the de- 
claration of Parson Mills, from authority no less 
conspicuous and dictatorial than Mr. Beecher, not a 
member of the same association. How singular 
this, when my council at the late trial had under- 
stood him to say, there was nothing for which the 
association could censure me." This procedure 



101 

was moat extraordinary, and in this free country 
unprecedented. 

On the same day of the receipt of the above let- 
ter and certificate, I showed them to two clergy- 
men, and requested them to inform me what these 
meant. They both assured me they could not ac- 
count for either, and recommended my committing 
them immediately to the flames. To this I object- 
ed ; and by their advice immediately wrote to Mi% 
Mills for an explanation, and also a removal of the 
" embargo;" but never received from him any an- 
swer. 

Reader, this singular proceeding, will be more 
fully developed hereafter, even should your sur- 
prise be still greatly enhanced. 

My school in Ellsworth recommenced, for the 
last time in that place, about the first of October, 
1815, and closed on the 20th of March following* 
I continued it as long as I could possibly command 
funds ; although I have been repeatedly and se- 
verely censured by many for discontinuing it. In 
the latter part of November, a second revival com- 
menced in my school. It was evidently more ex- 
tensive than that of the preceding summer, and con- 
tinued until the close of the school. It was, in- 
deed, an interesting season. The number of mem- 
bers in the school was probably from ninety to an 
hundred ; and it could hardly be said there was a 
thoughtless or heedless youth among the whole. 
Between thirty and forty were, in the view of cha- 
rity, savingly interested in this gracious visitation. 
Thus, during the two seasons of refreshing, within 
the short period of about nine months, more than 
sixty endeared youth were lead to hope in the 
mercy of God, through an all-precious and glorious 
Saviour. As it was the case in the first, so it was 
ia the second revival, the work was confined exclu- 
sively to the members of my school. 

During the last revival, we uniformly attended 
religious meetings in the Academy, with the ex- 

10 



102 

ception of communion days, when we attended 
with the society. I uniformly delivered three dis- 
courses on the Sabbath to my school ; one on 
Wednesdays, and occasional discourses on other 
days. In several instances I received the kind as- 
sistance of Christian ministers from abroad, during 
this revival ; but not a solitary instance is within 
my recollection, of a member of the association 
calling upon us, except my successor, the Rev. 
Mr. Lyman. Nor do I recollect of but one in- 
stance, in which one of them even made the inqui- 
ry of me relative to the last revival. My school 
was supplied one Sabbath by exchange, occasioned 
by a request of the north church in Cornwall, 
which was then supplied by a candidate, in order 
that I should administer to them the sacrament of 
the supper. When I afterwards inquired of one of 
the deacons of that church, why they did not di- 
rect their candidate to exchange with the minister 
who was settled in the same town, I understood him 
to say, that the minister had tendered his services 
to them, especially when informed the church had 
directed their candidate to call on me for that pur- 
pose ; but that he was informed the church would 
not receive the communion from his hands. 

It may not be improper here to remark, that two 
extensive revivals, and one if not two of less extent, 
appeared distinguishingly to emanate, under God, 
from the serious youth of my school, on their re- 
turn to their respective homes. Such were the 
iiiercy and grace of God to perishing souls, who 
were in opposition to infinite purity. How em- 
phatically is verified the declaration of God, by the 
mouth of the prophet, " I will bring the blind by a 
way that they knew not ; I will lead them in patha 
that they have not known ; I will make darkness 
light before them, and crooked things straight." 
" Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy 
jiame be all the glory." 



103 

An Academy had been erected in Greenville, 
Green county, N. Y. in the year 1815- During 
the summer and autumn of that year, I received 
two requests, by letter, to take the charge of it. In 
the month of November, if I mistake not, Aaron 
Hall, Esq. one of the trustees of that institution, 
called upon me for the purpose of engaging me to 
superintend that institution. As I was unwilling 
then to relinquish my own, and especially under 
existing circumstances, I was constrained to de- 
cline the proposal. Mr. Hall proceeded to call on 
the Rev. William R. Weeks, who was then supply- 
ing the south society in Washington. On his re- 
turn, he informed me he had not succeeded in ob- 
taining Mr. Weeks. He observed that the people 
in Washington were highly pleased with Mr. 
Weeks, and wished his continuance with them; 
that Mr. Weeks informed him, if he should teach 
a school any where, he was under obligations to 
Mr. Beecher to set up a school on Litchfield hilk 
Within a short period after, Mr. Weeks was pre- 
vailed upon to leave Washington and comply with 
Mr. Beecher' s request, by actually engaging in a 
school near his reverend solicitor. Hence the 
church and people of my native town were deprived 
of a supply, by one in whom they were pleasingly 
united, by the solicitation of Mr. Beecher. Seve- 
ral months after, I made inquiry of Mr. Weeks re- 
lative to the success of his school. He informed 
me, if I rightly remember, the incomes of his 
school were inadequate to defray the expenses of 
his own and his family's board. I could not but 
call to mind the severity with which Mr. Beecher 
had censured me, at my late trial, for leaving tha 
ministry, as he expressed himself, to teach a school; 
when I had for years supplied my people after I 
had engaged in my school ; and even after I had 
obtained a dismission, had procured for them ex- 
tensively a supply, at my own expense ; and fur- 
thermore, I had engaged in my school from the nr- 



104 

gent request of all around me* together with the 
united request of my church and people, and taken 
this extra burden on myself for the sole purpose of 
preserving the society from being rendered extinct. 
But now Mr. Weeks is called from a. vacant church 
and people, still bleeding under recent difficulties, 
tvho were desirous of his labours, and who, in all 
probability, would have invited him to settle with 
them; and by whom? and for what purpose? 
As Mr. Weeks informed Mr. Hall, by the request 
of Mr. Beecher, yet doubtless reeking in the crim- 
soned glow of his prime argument to criminate me, 
when he was professedly " acting the part of an 
attorney;" and to engage in establishing a new 
school, in itself impracticable, which had well-nigh 
beggared the Rev. Teacher. Surely, sable vest- 
ments, thought I, enshrine frail mortals. 

In the month of March, if I rightly remember, I 
was informed by a respectable gentleman in Litch: 
field, that Mr. Beecher had, on the day of my arri- 
val, been appraising his property, as I understood 
him, to his endorser. On my inquiry for a more 
particular explanation, he gave me the following 
statement, as I received the impressions. " That 
Mr. Beecher had been adding house to house, and 
it seemed was plunged into debt to the amount, as 
general report stated, of about three thousand dol- 
lars." My informant observed, that it was under- 
stood Mr. Beecher had turned out, or made over, 
even his furniture to his endorser, as he was inform- 
ed at the bank, and still there was a deficiency of 
about two thousand one hundred dollars." I ob- 
served, it was very singular Mr. Beecher should 
have so soon plunged into all those evils, with 
which he had so vehemently charged me, in his ar- 
guments, the preceding July. The gentleman ob- 
served, that Mr. B.'s treatment of me had been a 
subject of frequent remarks in that town. It is but 
justice, however, to observe, that Mr. B. found ex- 
tensive relief in his embarrassed circumstances, 



105 

from the ability and liberality of a number of gen- 
tlemen in Litchfield. Common fame declares, that 
seventeen or eighteen hundred dollars were speeds 
\y contributed for Mr. B.'s benefit, on stipulated 
conditions, and thus the demands against him great- 
ly reduced. With respect to the complement of 
the claims, the writer has no knowledge. 

On my return home, reflecting on the destitute 
situation of Ellsworth society, occasioned by a long 
$nd severe illness of their Rev. Pastor, and well 
knowing that Mr. B. had repeated assistances on the 
Sabbath, by clergymen from abroad who were oc- 
casionally at Litchfield, I thought proper to address 
a letter to him, for the purpose of procuring a Sab- 
bath's supply for the parish, in their destitute situ- 
ation. The following is the purport, if not the 
exact phraseology of the letter. 

" Sharon, March — , 1816. 
u Rev. Sir, 

" Our worthy pastor, the Rev. Mr. Lyman, has 
been confined by sickness ever since January last* 
For a few weeks his life was despaired of. He is 
now convalescing, but still confined to his room. 
During this period, his desk has been supplied but 
two or three Sabbaths by neighbouring ministers. 
If it can consist with the supply of your own desk, 
to give him a Sabbath's preaching, I trust it will be 
gratefully received by him and his people. In 
that case, permit me to recommend to you a por- 
tion of scripture as a text, for a part or the whole 
of the day, as you shall think proper : viz. Rom. 
ii. 1. ' Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, who- 
soever thou art that judgest : for wherein thou judg- 
est another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that 
judgest doest the same things/ Your compliance 
will verv much obliae yours, &c. 

« DANIEL PARKER, 

•'* Rev. Lyman Beecher ? " 
10* 



106 

The letter was immediately forwarded to Mr. B, 
but no supply rendered by him. And, indeed, it 
may be painful to state, that Mr. B. has never since 
spoken to me, although I have frequently passed so 
near him as even to brush his clothes, and full in 
his view. 

The trustees of Greenville academy again depu- 
ted one of their number, viz. Stoddard Smith, Esq. 
to call upon me, and if possible, to prevail on me to 
engage in their school. As the institution was new, 
the salary must necessarily be lower than in one 
long established and already flourishing. A little 
before this, I had been requested to go on to the 
westward, about two hundred and fifty miles, to 
take charge of an institution, and supply a vacant 
church on the Sabbath, with a salary of two thou- 
sand dollars. I had also been applied to by Dr° 
Dwight, to whom an application bad been made for 
a supply, to go into the neighbourhood of the Black 
River, to take charge of a seminary and supply a 
vacant congregation, with a salary of one thousand 
seven hundred dollars. As both the latter places 
were at a great distance, and it would be necessary 
for me to be near to Connecticut until my pecunia- 
ry difficulties should be brought to a close, I finally 
acceded to the proposals made me from Greenville, 
of a salary of seven hundred dollars a year, and 
also to supply a vacant church on the Sabbath, at 
Cairo, nine miles distant from Greenville, for three 
hundred dollars. Thus, from the necessity of a 
temporary residence near Connecticut, my labours 
would be enhanced beyond what would have been 
required at either of the other places referred to, 
and my emoluments for my services diminished 
nearly one half. 

But in order even to accomplish this removal, I 
stipulated with the board of trustees at Greenville 
to advance me eight hundred dollars, as a loan, 
which I received and carried on to Connecticut, 
^previous to my removal, and disbursed there, h*r« 



107 

ing already relinquished my property to my credl 
tors to such an extent, that I knew not of any other 
method, except by a loan, of raising one dollar of 
the above sum. 

About the first of May, 1816, I removed my fa- 
mily to Greenville, and commenced my labours in 
compliance with my engagements. Slanders the 
most base and virulent, were very shortly attempt- 
ed to be circulated in that region, from Connecti- 
cut. I traced many of them to their sources, and 
was not a little mortified to find their origin. Al- 
though, for a time, I was as a " stranger in a strange 
land," yet soon the shafts of calumny, evidently di- 
rected with a careful aim, did not light upon my- 
self, but reverberated back, in very general estima- 
tion, upon their conspicuous authors. I had not 
long continued in my new residence, before T was 
assailed by litigious expenses. Finding that these 
would far exceed my earnings, I sought for the be- 
nefit of the insolvent act, in the state of New- York. 
This I obtained the 23d of May, 181 7. 

Previous to my removal from Connecticut I had 
petitioned the supreme court of that state for the 
benefit of the act of insolvency. The trial was 
held at Litchfield in August, 1816, at which time I 
gave my attendance ; but my petition was nega- 
tived. The circumstances were singular, if not 
unprecedented. I deem it proper to give a rela- 
tion of them. Daniel Si. John, Esq. had been my 
near neighbour, during my residence in Sharon, 
and had been supposed to be a man of handsome 
property and strict integrity. As such I had con- 
sidered him until near the close of the year 1814. 
Some years previous to this, he had pretended to 
be embarrassed by a lottery, of which he was one 
of the managers. It has since, however, I think, 
been clearly apparent, that he received no pecunia- 
ry injury, but the contrary, having been deeply 
plunged into debt long before ; but most of his 
$ebts kept concealed, even from the knowledge of 



108 

his friends. In cancelling his lottery concerns, he 
had often called on me for aid, or to lend my name. 
When at a certain time he called on me to be 
bound with him for about 1500 dollars, I refused. 
At this he took offence. I was already holden for 
him for several thousand dollars, and felt unwilling 
to be further bound. Capt. Thomas St. John, au- 
other of my neighbours, was holden for him about 
one thousand dollars. As it was indispensibly ne- 
cessary he should have immediate aid, and Capt. 
St. John was unwilling to risk his own claims with- 
out security, he called on D. St. John, and inform- 
ed him he must secure both of us, and we would 
render him further assistance. This he did as we 
then supposed, by giving us an acknowledged deed 
of his home farm, which contained, probably, more 
than 200 acres of land, with all his buildings there- 
on ; but it was stipulated we should not then put 
the deed on record; that it should be retained in 
the hands of Capt. St. John, with a positive assu- 
rance he would duly inform him, if there was any 
hazard of our loosing our hold, in time to have it 
entered for record, and thus preserve our security. 
In consequence of this supposed security which 
was given years before the failure, in order to re- 
lieve his pressing necessities, I went in a very vio- 
lent storm and encountering the darkness of night, 
to the distance of fifty miles to procure him funds. 
It was very frequent, indeed, that I was obliged, in 
the short period of a few hours notice, to raise and 
advance for him as endorser, to preserve my own 
credit as well as his own, almost every sum, from 
ten to a thousand or thousands of dollars, and that 
for years together. In the course of concerns, we 
were indeed often mutual endorsers, and yet the 
deed he had given he had never, to my knowledge, 
deemed unessential to my security ; nor do I know 
of a solitary instance of his ever advancing, as en- 
dorser for me, one shilling at any time. For seve- 
ral months before the failure, I was compelled to 



109 

advance, as endorser, almost all his installments* 
In the latter part of November, 1814, he was pro- 
secuted for the nonpayment of a bank note. Even 
after this suit was commenced against him, I had 
negociated his concerns at banks, except at one 
place, which he had engaged to attend to in the 
mean time, so that it appeared probable I might 
yet carry him through. By his neglect to attend 
in due time at that place, as he had engaged, the 
tempest suddenly burst forth and I was carried 
down the current. 

Previous to this he had again and again assured 
myself and others, that there was no encumbrance 
on his home farm, of any kind whatever, except 
the deed above mentioned. This he expressly 
declared also, w r hen he mortgaged a part of his 
farm, by consent, to the Bridgeport bank, to secure 
the payment of a claim against him. Very shortly 
after, it was found he had spread a mortgage over 
the whole farm, many months before, to secure the 
payment of 1500 dollars to a gentleman in New- 
Haven ; and the Bridgeport bank were finally com- 
pelled to advance that sum in specie, in order to 
raise that mortgage, for the purpose of retaining 
their own hold. Thus our claim by deed was en- 
tirely lost. 

Soon after the failure, Mr. Ezekiel St. John and 
myself, who had supposed we well understood for 
years, the amount of debts and demands of D. St. 
John, from his repeated declarations, on which we 
had placed entire dependance as correct, found by 
claims shortly presented by creditors, of which We 
had before no knowledge, about 5000 dollars ; and 
in his demands against others, a deficiency of about 
3000 dollars, making a difference in his property of 
about 8000 dollars. At this we were greatly dis- 
appointed. 

A little previous to the failure, I ascertained that 
he had often been in the habit of raising sums of 
money, by go^ig to certain individuals, and telling 



no 

them I wanted so much money until such a day$ 
when I would return it ; and that I had requested 
him to call and receive it. One of his contracts of 
this description, which he neglected to meet, of 
150 dollars, I was called upon to discharge. On 
my inquiry of Mr. St. John respecting it, he ac- 
knowledged the fact, and his apology was, that he 
knew not how otherwise to raise the money ; and 
believing he should be able to meet it without the 
fact ever coming to my knowledge, he presumed 
upon it. I afterwards found by information, that it 
seemed he had oftentimes presumed upon the same 
plan before, and had in some instances even come 
to me, on the day of payment, and informed me he 
must raise a given sum of money on that day, for a 
certain object, and I must lend him the money or 
he should be in jeopardy. Thus, it would seem, I 
had repeatedly redeemed my own name, given by 
him in verbal pledge for a loan of which I had not 
the least knowledge. 

It was now rendered apparent, that the integrity 
which we had uniformly attached to D. St. John 
was in several respects greatly impaired. I con- 
sidered myself to have been greatly injured in pro- 
perty by him, and also knew him to be indebted to, 
me in a large amount. 

Soon after the failure, I reckoned with him, and 
his own book declared him to be indebted to me, 
within the short period of the last nine months, 
more than a thousand dollars, which he had not re- 
funded. 

One very extraordinary and flagrant act of his 
I shall omit here, as it is connected with a subject 
which will claim a place in the succeeding pages. 

In the beginning of the year 1815, I learnt that 
D. St. John was using efforts abroad, to induce the 
belief that I had been the cause of his failure. 
This he dare not assert in my presence, as he well 
knew the fact to be the reverse, and probably was 
aware that many of my neighbours jjso knew it to 



Ill v 

be false, which I trust will hereafter clearly appear, 
I did not adopt any measures at this time to coun- 
teract his exertions, being fully convinced that time 
and patience would eventually correct the error* 
and clearly exhibit the state of facts. 

About this time an attorney from New-Haven 
called on me, for a bank claim of 750 dollars. I 
informed him I had no means for securing the debt? 
as my property was all encumbered ; that D. St. 
John was indebted to me a large sum of money, 
and requested him to call on Mr. St. John, and in- 
form him, it was his duty to secure the payment of 
the claim, and it should apply on the money he 
owed me. I understood by the attorney on his re- 
turn, that the claim was secured. I soon saw Mr. 
St. John, who informed me he had secured the 
claim ; and it was agreed it should apply in pay- 
ment of my demand on him. Several times during 
the following summer he repeated to me his securi- 
ty of the claim. In October following we were 
both at New-Haven, and called at the office of the 
attorney to see that the business was properly 
transferred, but to my surprise, I ascertained that 
no security had been given by Mr. St. John. It 
seemed, the attorney was so highly gratified by se- 
curing a note against Mr. St. John, the preceding 
winter, that when he called upon me on his return, 
and I inquired of him respecting the security of the 
claim, he had mistaken Mr. St. John's for my own. 
I then informed Mr. St. John, in the presence of 
the attorney, that he had often assured me he had 
secured the claim, and it had been already agreed 
to deduct it from my demand against him. I had 
no other possible method of discharging it, and 
should consider him as holden by engagement to 
meet it. Mr. St. John, after this, was prosecuted 
upon the claim by the bank and a judgment obtain- 
ed. Shortly after my removal from Connecticut, I 
was informed he was imprisoned on the demand, as 
it was expected he had the ability to pay, but with- 



112 

held it. This would indeed have been a hard case, 
had he not received all the money and much more, 
long before, and had assured me again and again, 
that he had secured it, and it had even been con- 
sidered as deducted from my demand on him. 

It would seem, by information, that Mr. St. John 
now gave full vent to his depraved feelings. With 
much labour and exertions, he endeavoured to 
spread the belief, in Litchfield and elsewhere, that 
I was the sole cause of hh failure ; that he was im- 
prisoned on my debt, which he had long since as- 
sumed ; and used vigorous exertions to defame and 
injure me. He, however, speedily took the poor 
man's oath, and thus cancelled his own as well as 
the debts of others. Yet it is highly desirable, that 
the declaration of a deputy sheriff of Litchfield coun- 
ty, afterwards made, should prove merely romantic. 
I understood him to use the following expression: 
" that St. John had sworn out of gaol with a/arm 
at his back, and that the farm was afterward attach- 
ed for debt, and hoi den." 

It was the August following that my petition 
came on for trial, and was negatived. A day or 
two previous to the trial, Mr. St. John set himself 
to work to oppose my petition. I have been in- 
formed, by one of the two who were alleged to be 
the parties opposed to my petition, and that repeat- 
edly, that Mr. St. John procured- the citation of a 
number of witnesses in their names, without their 
knowledge or consent, to endeavour to prevent the 
success of my petition, and even sent out of the 
state, but with sore disappointment, to endeavour to 
procure testimony to criminate me. Of this I shall 
take notice hereafter. Thus, by nefarious manage- 
ment, distinguishingly characteristic of its author, 
aided by an attorney who in many particulars har- 
monized with him, probably, in principle and prac- 
tice, although I believe it was generally considered/ 
that I clearly proved every point in the statute.* 



113 

necessary and requisite to be entitled to my requesf, 
yet I received a negative. 

At the close of my school in Sharon, I had claims 
for tuition to the amount of between thirty and for- 
ty dollars, against William Knapp, Esq. and others, 
of Greenwich, in Connecticut. Mr. St. John was 
indebted to Mr. Knapp to a large amount, and had 
boarded his sons and others in application of pay- 
ment. The preceding vacation, Mr. St. John had 
applied to me to transfer Mr. Knapp's tuition bills of 
about twelve dollars to him, as he wished to defray 
all Mr. Knapp's charges for schooling ; and assured 
me, if I would comply with his request, he would 
collect money from his other boarding bills, in a few 
days, and discharge my bills. Induced to believe 
he would not make this engagement under existing 
circumstances, without fulfilling it, I consented to 
his proposal ; but his pledge was all the payment I 
ever received from him. As he was about to car- 
ry the young gentlemen from Greenwich home, at 
the close of my school, he called and unblushinglyn 
requested of me to transfer the tuition bills then 
due me, to him, as I had done before. I refused ; 
assuring him I must have the money to pay over to 
my assistants, and should make no more transfers. 
He then pledged himself to bring up the money to 
me, on his return, if I would send the bills by him. 
I informed him, in the hearing of the young gentle- 
men, if he would bring the money and deliver ii 
over to me, I would balance the bills. To this he 
agreed, and took the bills. 

On the same day, I entered on a journey of be- 
tween two and three weeks, and left directions with 
my family to call on him, immediately on his return, 
and receive the money. On my arrival from my 
tour, I was informed, that Mr. St. John had brought 
me no money ; that as soon as he reached home, 
Mr. Peet, one of my late assistants, was desired to 
call on him and receive the money. He called on 

11 



114 

Mr. St. John, but could not get any direct answer 
from him. Mr. A. Sperry, who lived in my fami- 
ly, was then requested to go and get it. He went 
and asked Mr. St. John for the money, but was in- 
formed by him, that he had not received a cent of 
money for me. Deacon A. Woodward was then 
requested to go and obtain the money, as my family 
were full in the belief that he had brought it. He 
also went, but was assured by Mr. St. John, that 
he had not received a cent of money for me. More- 
over, he declared to Deacon Woodward, lhat he 
had turned my bills to Mr. Knapp's claims on him, 
and should become accountable to me for the mo- 
ney. At this information, concluding it probable 
that he had thus applied my demand, directly con- 
trary to my consent and proposals, J resolved to 
say nothing to him on the subject, as I expected 
very soon to move out of the state ; but immediate- 
ly on my arrival at Greenville, would write to have 
Mr. Knapp remit the bills, as under those circum- 
stances it could be no payment to me, although he 
might have applied it to Mr. St. John's debt, pre- 
suming that his son would well remember I had 
wholly refused any transfer of my claim, and must 
receive the money. Accordingly, on my arrival at 
Greenville, I wrote to the Hon. R. M. Sherman, 
Esq. stating the circumstances, and desiring him to 
call on Mr. Knapp for my bills. Soon after, I re- 
ceived from Mr. Sherman the following letter: 

" Fairfield, (Con.) July 6th, 1816. 
" Dear Sir — Agreeably to your request, I 
wrote to Wm. Knapp, Esq. relative to the school 
bills. They have all been paid to Mr. St. John. 
Mr. Knapp writes as follows : ' My son and Doct. 
Belcher's say, that they called on Mr. Parker, and 
he told them he would not agree to have the bills 
applied to Mr. Sr. John's debt ; that he wanted the 
money, and told Mr. St. John to receive the mo- 



115 

ney and bring it up. The money was accordingly 
paid to Mr. St. John, for you:' 

" R. M. SHERMAN. 
" Rev. D. Parker," 

At this intelligence I was indeed disappointed, 
It is clearly obvious, the falsehoods of Mr. St. 
John are not the only evils which resulted from thi* 
transaction. To render the subject evident, I have 
since procured affidavits of his repeated assertions, 
that he bad received no money for me, which I sub- 
join. 

" J, Austin Sperry, of lawful age, deposrt and 
say, that about the first of April, 1816, I, at ih&i 
time living in the family of the Rev. D. Parker, 
then of Sharon, w r as requested to go over to the 
house of Daniel St. John, Esq. and receive from 
him some money which, it was expected, he had 
brought from Wm. Knapp, Esq. of Greenwich, 
from whence he had just returned, on whom I was 
informed Mr. Parker had drawn an order, for be- 
tween thirty and forty dollars for tuition bills, and 
sent by the said St. John, to the said Knapp, to 
receive and bring the money to Mr. Parker. I 
accordingly called on Mr. St. John, and asked him 
for the money, as I was requested. He informed 
me he had not got any money for Mr. Parker. On 
mentioning that Mr. Parker had expected to re- 
ceive the money by him, of the Knapp bills, he re- 
plied, that he had not received a cent of money for 
Mr. Parker. 

"AUSTIN SPERRY. 
" Sworn before me, at Sharon, the 

4th day of December, 1817. 

" ANSEL STERLING, Justice Peace." 

" I, Abel Woodward, of Sharon, of lawful' age, 
depose and say, that some time in the month of 
April, 1816, I was requested by Mrs. Parker to 



116 

call on Daniel St. John, Esq. and receive some 
money which, it was expected, he had brought up 
from Wm. Knapp, Esq. of Greenwich, for tuition 
bills due Mr. Parker; and that Austin Sperry had 
been over to the said St. John's to get the money, 
but without success. I accordingly went to Esq. 
St. John and asked him for the money. He re- 
plied, as my uniform impression has been, that fee 
had not received a cent of money for Mr. Parker; 
that Mr. Knapp expected the tuition, as well as 
board, to be turned to his, St. John's, account." 

Question by D. Parker. " Did you not derive 
the impression, from what Esq. St. John informed 
you, that he had turned my claim for tuition, to his 
account or credit with Mr. Knapp?" 

Answer. " I did." 

Question. " Did not Daniel St. John, Esq. in- 
form you, in the summer of 1816, that I had had a 
deed of his homested for several years, in conjunc- 
tion with Capt. Thomas St John, for advancing 
monies for him ?" 

Answer. " I received that impression from Esq, 
St. John." 

"ABEL WOODWARD. 
c Sworn before me, this 4th day of 

December, 1817, at Sharon. 

« ANSEL STERLING, Justice Peace." 

From the foregoing documents, I think it must 
clearly appear, that Mr. St. John was guilty, not 
only of depriving me of my just claims to a very 
considerable amount, (and whether the transaction 
would fall under the appellation of breach of trust, 
fraud, theft, or swindling, is not for me to decide,) 
but the whole was covered with the foul crime of 
falsehood. Such was the man, then an active ma- 
gistrate, with whom I had to contend, busily en- 
gaged to deprive me of my property, reputation, 
and rights ; and such was the man who clandestine- 
ly excited opposition to my petition, and thus, con- 



nr 

trary both to the letter and spirit of the statute, 
caused me to be deprived of what it justly secured 
by its provisions. 

Duty impels me not to omit mentioning, that at 
the trial at Litchfield, Mr. Philo Swift appeared^ 
respecting whose incorrect testimony at Ellsworth, 
in July, 1815, I have already made particular men- 
tion, and testified precisely as he had done before 
when I proved his testimony untrue. I had before 
indulged charity, that his erroneous testimony arose 
from unintentionally combining two distinct things 
together, which, I had presumed, from explaining 
and proving at that time to be untrue, would impose 
on him obligations of gratitude for the favour thus 
rendered him. But when he soon after came and 
censured me for interrupting his testimony before 
the association, I was constrained to doubt whether 
I had not always been deceived in the man. The 
readiness and energy with which he repeated the 
same testimony before the Superior court, at Litch- 
field, I confess seemed entirely to remove my 
doubts. Mr. Ezekiel St. John and Doctor Cal- 
*hoon very soon observed to me, while yet in the 
court house, that it was extraordinary that Mr. 
Swift persisted in that testimony. For the accu- 
racy of this statement, relative to Mr. Swift's testi- 
mony, I subjoin the affidavit of Mr. Ezekiel St. 
John for its confirmation. 

" I, Ezekiel St. John, of lawful age, depose and 
say, that I have heard read the account which Mr. 
Parker has given of his trial before the north asso- 
ciation of Litchfield county, at Ellsworth, in July, 
1815, and find it to be correct, as I was present and 
witnessed the trial. What is observed relative to 
Mr. Beecher's zeal and efforts, together with his 
arguments, I think are justly and fairly represent- 
ed. I considered him to be very overbearing, un- 
reasonable, and abusive, in his treatment of Mr, 
Parker, and far exceeded the meekness and modest 

it* 



118 

deportment of a minister of the gospel. The 
statement relative to the Rev. T. Stone is correct 
in all the particulars ; also as respects 31essrs: 
Perry and Harvey. Indeed, I do not know of a 
single point related, which is not a faithful and just 
narrative. Moreover, the representation given of 
Mr. Philo Swift's testimony, I would panicularly 
notice, is a correct statement ; as fa also that which 
is given as the result of the association. 

" I furthermore depose and say, that on or about 
the last day of August, 1816, Mr. Philo Swift did 
testify, before the Superior court of the state of 
Connecticut, at their session in Litchfield, precise- 
ly to the same effect as he had testified at Ells- 
worth, before the association, in July, 1815, as 
stated by Mr. Parker, although Mr. Parker had 
clearly proved before the association at the time of 
his testifying, by indubitable witnesses, that his tes- 
timony was incorrect. And I well remember, that 
I remarked to Mr. Parker, immediately after he 
had testified at Litchfield, that it was extraordina- 
ry that Mr. Swift should persist in that testimony. 
Such was Mr. Swift's testimony in both instances, 
under the solemnity of an oath, whatever might 
have been his impressions. 

" EZEKIEL ST. JOHN." 

" Personally appeared before me, Ezekiel St* 
John, being duly sworn, saith, that the foregoing 
affidavit is substantially true : before me, this 28th 
day of October, 1818, in the city of Hudson. 

« JOHN RAYNOR, Justice Peace." 

As the foregoing affidavit confirms, not only my 
statement relative to Mr. Swift, but also that which 
I have given in relation to the conduct of Messrs. 
Beecher, Perry, Stone, and Harvey, during the late 
trial, I deem it proper here to subjoin the certificate 
of Capt. Isaiah Everitr, in further confirmation of 
the extraordinary conduct of the above-named Rev, 
clergymen* 



119 

" I, Isaiah Everitt, hereby certify, that I have 
heard read the account which Mr. Parker has 
given of his trial, before the north association of 
Litchfield county, in July, 1815, at which I was 
present and witnessed the proceedings. His state- 
ment I conceive to be a faithful and just narrative, 
of the facts and proceedings which then transpired, 
I perfectly harmonize in the affidavit of Mr. Eze~ 
kiel St. John, relative to the statement, and par- 
ticularly as respects Messrs. Beecher, Perry, 
Stone, and Harvey. Indeed, there is not a point 
which I do not consider a faithful and true narra- 
tive. 

"ISAIAH EVERITT- 

" City of Hudson, Dec. 3d, 1813." 

My sensations, in view of the proceedings in va- 
rious respects at the trial of my petition at Litch- 
field, were such as entirely to wean me from the 
least desire to protract my existence in a state 
long celebrated for "its steady habits," although 1 
still respected uiany of its inhabitants. I therefore 
most cheerfully took my leave of it. On my re- 
turn to Greenville, I felt that duty impelled me ta 
call on Mr. Swift to redress his untruths, of which 
I conceived htm guilty ; and having anopportunity 
to send directly to his house* I addressed to him a 
iine in substance as follows : 

"Greenville, Sept. — ,1816. 
" Mr. Philo Swift. Sir — You will remember 
how you testified before the north association of 
Litchfield county, at Ellsworth, on the 12th of Ju- 
ly, 1815, and also that your testimony was the same 
on the last day of August, 1816, before the Superior 
court of Connecticut, at their session at Litchfield* 
With your testimony I am wholly dissatisfied. 
This is, therefore, to give you notice, that if you 
speedily adjust this concern, it is well; if not^you 



120 

will have no cause of complaint if I shall call on 
you in a legal manner. 

« I am, &c. DANIEL PARKER." 

I had no particular information from Mr. Swift, 
until the following summer, except by common 
fame, that he soon presented my letter for inspect 
tion to some of the neighbouring clergy, and dealt 
out some singular inuendoes, which, if true, were 
still more unaccountable. As one of the witnesses 
necessary to be improved, in case of a complaint, 
had removed out of that state, to what place I knew 
not, I had, for this reason solely, withheld a regular 
prosecution against him. His after-conduct to- 
wards me will, no doubt, afford ample evidence of 
his anxious solicitude to mar my reputation : and it 
will be left with the reader to draw his own infer- 
ences, whether it was, or was not, his wish to exert 
his influence to procure a censure to be passed upon 
me, and thus, by injuring my reputation, possibly 
prevent a detection of his own iniquity. 

After obtaining the benefit of the insolvent act 
in this state in May, 1817, which had been attend- 
ed with a very considerable expense, and I had 
given up even every article of household furniture, 
necessary beds and bedding excepted, I had fond- 
ly indulged the hope that the severity of my trials 
were now to relax, and I might enjoy a respite from 
a singular series of adverse events. But it was to 
be far otherwise. The trials and sufferings I had 
already experienced were mere cordials in compa- 
rison with those which soon followed. 

On the morning of the 5th of July, 1817, I was 
informed by the Rev. Beriah Hotchkin of Green- 
wich, who had just returned from a visit to Con- 
necticut, that there was much clamour there in res- 
pect to myself. I inquired if he knew in what par- 
ticulars ? He answered he did not. I inquired 
whether Messrs. Beecher and Harvey were his in* 
formers relative to those clamours? He replied^ 



121 

tliey did name the subject to him. He then inquir- 
ed whether some of the ministers had not been out 
to visit me in his absence ? I informed him there 
had ziot. He then related to me, he was informed 
that a complaint had been presented against me, be- 
fore the north association of Litchfield county, at 
their semiannual meeting on the 2d Tuesday of the 
preceeding June, and a committee of four appoint- 
ed by the body to make preparation for a trial ; 
two old ministers, viz : the Rev. Messrs. Gillet and 
Hallock, to make preparation in that quarter, and 
two younger, viz: the Rev. Messrs. Beach and 
Cowles, to come out to deal with me. He observ- 
ed, he knew nothing of their charges, or by whom 
the complaint was introduced. This was the first 
intelligence I had received of any difficulty or un- 
easiness in that region, since my trial in July, 1815; 
nor could I possibly imagine what they had select- 
ed at this time as the ground of charge. 

On the morning of the 9th of July, Messrs. Beach 
and Cowles called at my dwelling in Greeneville. 
After furnishing them with as comfortable a break- 
fast as my habitation afforded, I observed to them 
my study was at their service, and I would accom- 
pany one or both of them into it, if it was desired. 
Mr. Beach replied, he wished for an interview with 
me by ourselves. I retired with him. 

He expressed surprise, that I should have inquir- 
ed of him on his arrival for Mr. Cowles, who had 
stopped at the tavern a little distance from my re- 
sidence. I replied, there was nothing mysterious 
respecting it. He appeared, to wonder how I 
should know Mr. Cowles was to accompany him. 
I could not but even be suspicious from his suspi 
cions, as he acted singularly; apparently as if he 
intended to come upon me " like the vulture upon 
his prey," but seemingly indulged fears that I had, 
possibly by spies, discovered all their meanderings^ 
and there was danger of detection. I endeavoured 
to pacify his mind, that there wai really no magiG 



122 

on the subject; that I surely had no spies out, anil 
that he need feel no alarm on that account. I ac- 
knowledge I could not but think at that time, of the 
alarm which has sometimes been occasioned by the 
rustling of a leaf or a bush. His mind being appa- 
rently more quiet, I observed I had understood 
there was a complaint against me before the associ- 
ation. He answered there was ; but his surprise 
seemed again to revive at my having had know- 
ledge of this fact* I assured him I knew of no en- 
chantment on my part. I then inquired when the 
complaint was exhibited. He replied at their meet- 
ing in June. I inquired who presented the com- 
plaint ? He answered he should not tell. I observ- 
ed, it was very singular there should be a com- 
plaint exhibited against me, and yet I must not be 
permitted to know who my accusers were. I claim- 
ed it was my right to be informed. He asserted 
he should not tell. I replied, you will tell me 
whether they are clergymen or laymen? He an- 
swered he should not. I remarked, I thought it 
extraordinary that I might not know my accusers, 
that I might be prepared to meet them. I inform- 
ed him that I had, to his knowledge, suffered one 
persecution, and I was unwilling to endure another. 
I then stated to him some unaccountable proceed- 
ings in their former efforts, which Avere probably 
unprecedented in protestant countries ; and the sin- 
gularly active exertion* of some of the members of 
that association to procure a censure to be inflicted 
upon me. I observed, all this I had reason to fear 
had arisen from the desir e of certain individuals, 
to shelter their own improprieties, and prevent 
them from being brought to light, by endeavouring 
to bring infamy on myself. I added, if their ob- 
ject was simply an investigation ofjacts, I had no 
objections to any investigations, how extensive so- 
ever ; but if then: object was a second persecution, 
I should wholly decline any inquiries. Mr. Beach 



123 

averred the object was not a persecution, but sim- 
ply an investigation of facts. I then demanded 
of him the information, whether the complaint w r as 
introduced by either, or a/Z,of the following persons, 
viz : Messrs. Perry, Stone, and Harvey, clergy- 
men, or Cyrus Swan, Daniel St. John, and Philo 
Swift, laymen. If it proceeded from all, or either 
of these, I should totally object to any inquiries, as 
I considered each one to tremble in view of his 
own iniquities, or crimes. He answered, he should 
not telly I must find out by the sequel. 

A charge was then exhibited of my borrowing 
money of Cyrus Swan in a criminal manner. The 
story, which I immediately reduced to writing, was 
this : " that I was in Sharon street at a certain 
time, and an officer levied an execution on my bo- 
dy, on a claim of an hundred dollars, and that I 
must either go immediately to gaol, or advance the 
money; that I applied to Cyrus Swan to lend me 
the money, and promised him if he would render 
me the favour, I would replace it before sunset of 
that day; that Mr. Swan considered ihe pledge as 
an honorary one, feeling assured I should not under 
those circumstances make such an engagement 
without punctually fulfilling it, and therefore ad- 
vanced the money, which I wholly neglected to re- 
mit to him, and thus violated my engagements. " 

I informed Mr. Beach the story was entirely 
new to me, and I knew not from what ir could be 
framed. In the 1st place, there never had been, to 
my knowledge, an execution against me before my 
removal, to be thus levied. 2dly, I defied them to 
produce an officer in Connecticut, that ever had 
such an execution. 3dly, No such circumstance 
had ever taken place in any part of that state. 
4thly, I had not borrowed an hundred dollars of 
Mr. Swan since the failure ; and 5thly, the story 
was framed out of whole cloth. 

It was then urged that I had used improper 
jneasures to obtain money from Samuel Skiff. 



124 

I replied to this charge in a manner which would 
probably have satisfied rational minds, in ordinary 
circumstances. 

After we had been for some time together, Mr. 
Beach, probably to expedite the business of his 
mission, inquired whether I had any objections to 
Mr. Cowles being called in to hear the conversa- 
tion. I assured him I had none, I should be pleas- 
ed to have the assembled universe hear the conver- 
sation. Mr. Cowles was of course called in. 

It is possible that all the articles of inquiry or 
charge, will not be placed in the same order in 
which they were introduced in the interview ; yet 
I shall endeavour to arrange them as exhibited, al- 
though the order is varied in the complaint. The 
particular answers, also, to some of the charges, will 
be deferred to future pages, where I trust each 
will be fully answered. 

A charge highly criminal in its nature, and no 
doubt designed to be fatal in its effects, was then 
exhibited, viz : " that I had made a false affidavit 
respecting the time in which a certain note was to 
be paid to the Bridgeport bank, signed by William 
Lewis and others." It was some time before I 
could possibly discover what was meant by the 
charge exhibited, or to what it referred. As soon 
as I could ascertain what was alluded to, I very 
speedily exhibited papers and documents, which 
doubtless any but those who were bent on persecu- 
tion under the slightest pretence, would have 
deemed amply sufficient to remove every imputa- 
tion. 

It was then urged, " that I had greatly injured 
Daniel St. John in his property, and was the cause 
of his failure ; that I had given him ' a statement 
of debts,' and thereby deceived him." 

I assured Mr. Beach, the fact was directly the 
reverse ; that my own memorandum books would 
exhibit it ; and no doubt the testimony of many of 
my old neighbours would confirm it. J inquired of 



12b 

him whether Mr. St. John could produce such a 
statement. He replied, he could not find it. I 
informed him, I must conclude that he could not, 
and that he well understood it himself. 

Mr. Beach now sorely complained that I denied 
every thing laid to my charge. I assured him his 
declaration was unaccountable. 1 inquired, if he 
wished me to acknowledge as true, things that were 
totally false and unfounded, because he saw fit to 
charge them upon me, and thus cause me in reality 
to be guilty of falsehoods ? Or whether he desired 
a plain and correct statement of facts, for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining truth ! It did appear to me that 
nothing short of acknowledged guilt on my part, 
would answer his mind. 

I was then charged with criminality respecting 
" a printed statement, or petition to the superior 
court of the state of Connecticut, to be holden at 
Litchfield on the first Tuesday of February, 
1316." To this I replied, stating the circumstan- 
ces, and strict propriety of the statement ; and as 
a further justification, I would cheerfully present 
him with a printed copy as a defence against his 
charge. 

He was then pleased to charge me with being 
criminal, in " removing large quantities of house- 
hold furniture from Connecticut into the state of 
I^ew-York, while owing large sums to numerous 
creditors in that state, and the manner in which it 
was removed." 

My replication, which undoubtedly would have 
been satisfactory to minds less desirous of censure, 
and who were willing to view subjects rationally, 
appeared, nevertheless, to be unsatisfactory to Mr. 
Beach. Yet it seemed as if the difficulties which 
he might have imagined to be insuperable on my 
part, were in realitj destroyed. He therefore com- 
plained, in the hearing of Mr. Cowles, " it does no 
good to charge Mr. Parker with any thing, for he 
denies the whole." Bold and presumptuous man! 

12 



126 

1 assured him the world had never found ine any 
other than an honest man ; and I should not now 
submit to false assertions, merely because his char- 
ges would gain countenance by so doing ; or the au~ 
thors be gratified by my crimination ; that he well 
knew, had there been a solitary act of dishonesty, 
or untruth, on my part, they would not have resort- 
ed to such pitiful measures to criminate, and adopt- 
«d clandestine means to bring reproach upon me. 
They would manfully have seized upon a real fact, 
a» a just ground of censure- 

An attempt was then made to renew the old 
charge relative to John Tallmadge, Esq. which 
had before been through the mill, and dismissed. 

I replied, it was indeed singular that this should 
^gain be resorted to, when by the letter of Mr. 
Tallmadge, and ajso other credible testimony, it 
had been abundantly proved, that the charge was 
" like the baseless fabric of a vision ;" and when I 
had, furthermore, filed a complaint against one of 
their number for unchristian conduct, in introdu- 
cing it as a charge, as he had been previously assu- 
red by the person, who of all others must have 
been the first to be dissatisfied, that there was no 
cause of charge ; and that it seemed they even al- 
tered their constitution by a verbal motion at the 
time to which I had ciied the respondent for trial, 
possibly to shield him as well as others who were 
in like situations. Mr. Beach then denied the al- 
teration of the constitution at the time referred to, 
as I had stated. I assured him, if their records 
had been correctly kept, they would testify the 
alteration. Mr. Cowles observed, it was a fact 
that the constitution was altered, as I had specifi- 
ed. Mr. Beach finally conceded that point. I 
then presented him with the letter of Mr. Tall- 
madge, which I have already inserted. He ap- 
peared to read it with disappointment, and it was 
finally copied. 



ix/ 



Mr. Beach suggested, after this,, several othef 
charges ; one of which was, that he signified there 
was something improper, if not criminal, on my 
part, relative to the late revival in my school at 
Sharon. I inquired if I was criminal, because there 
w T as a revival among the youth of my school ? He 
replied, it was not considered to be any efforts of 
mine, as it was agreed upon, or supposed ; but to 
be attributed solely " to the prayers and efforts of a 
pious young girl," whom I had employed as an 
Instructress in my school. I assured him I claim- 
ed nothing myself. If it was my work, it was 
surely good for nothing ; I could have no favorable 
opinion of it whatever. I trust he will well remem- 
ber I put the inquiry to him, whether this was not 
Hie probable reason why an account was not given 
of that revival the next spring, by the delegates 
from Connecticut, to the general assembly of minis- 
ters in Philadelphia, when they had been particu- 
lar to mention other revivals generally in that state* 
and especially in the female school at Litchfield? 
I added, there had indeed been two revivals in the 
institution at Greenville, since I had the charge of 
it; and instances of individuals in two other places 
where I had rendered supplies, but I claimed no 
merit in either case. Yet I was truly astonished 
that I should be criminated, and that too by a mitt- 
ister, because God, who is a sovereign, was pleased 
to accomplish his own work in his own way. Mr. 
Beach then observed, he would not be understood 
to exhibit this as a charge ; yet thought it proper 
I should know how they felt on the subject. Won- 
derful, surprising comprehension ! " Lord what is 
man." 

Another charge was anticipated, and that oppor- 
tunity improved to exhibit it. It was this. " It 
was not expected I would appear before the supe- 
rior court, to be holden at Litchfield on the third 
Tuesday of the next August, and save my bail in 
a suit then pending." 



128 

I signified, that it was truly pitiful they should be 
under the necessity of resorting to anticipated 
dharges, as a ground of censure, even to things 
which did not exist. It might be reasonably ex- 
pected that their watchfulness and solicitude to dis- 
cover some haltings, which they might make a just 
ground of censure, to inflict a deadly wound, might 
prove successful, without resorting to anticipated 
charges. Yet T would cheerfully pledge myself 
they would not be successful on that charge, for I 
should surely attend at Litchfield, life and health 
permitting, and save my bail. 

Mr. Beach then had the goodness to inform me, 
the association had adjourned to the 2d Tuesday in 
August, to meet in Cornwall, for my trial. 

It was impossible to.express my astonishment at 
such an unaccountable procedure ! A complaint 
had been presented before their body, by whom I 
must not know, and the day of execution fixed up- 
on at a time when they well knew it would be im- 
possible for me to attend ; and it w r as not in their 
power, or that of any others at that time, to give 
me a safe conduct to attend ; and the time nearly 
half elapsed from the entry of the complaint to the 
day of execution before I had the least knowledge 
of the subject, or that I had given any occasion for 
suffering; and furthermore, that their charges could 
not be supported, were I permitted the privilege 
of defence, and also that I must be there the next 
week, and could be protected in my attendance ; 
yet in this situation I must encounter, among oth- 
ers, an anticipated charge, as already criminal, 
and be tried, and perhaps condemned upon it, one 
week before the criminality could exist ; and which 
charge might actually be done away one week af* 
£er,*»(although it would then be forever too late,) 
should I appear at Litchfield, which I might 
safely do under the protection of the court. 
Surely, thought I, this is hard ! I had almost began 
to examine whether I was in Spain, Italy, or Tur 



129 

key. Common impressions would seem to dictate 
that I ;r ould not have been in America, and espe- 
cially in the highly favoured section of the United 
States. Yet on looking around, Mr. Beach was at 
hand, and in the active discharge of the duties of 
his mission. I observed at once to him r this was 
all a preconcerted plan to condemn me unheard r 
and without an opportunity of defence ; that the 
combinatian was clearly discoverable from this 
single circumstance, were there no other. I in- 
formed him, it was doubtless well known by some 
of their body, that the charges against me, in every 
instance, were wholly unfounded, and that they 
might with equal propriety have been exhibited 
against any other clergyman in this state, so far as 
I had any personal knowledge of the facts. I only 
asked for the opportunity of defence, and I would 
cheerfully meet their charges. And to me it ap- 
peared obvious, they were aware I could manfully 
meet them, or this opportunity of defence would 
have been given me. The anticipated charge ap- 
peared to be clearly in proof of this. Further- 
more, were they willing to meet on reasonable 
grounds, it would have been granted, The time 
of trial would not have been fixed upon, anterior to 
that for which I had already received an anticipa- 
ted charge of a crime. This affords evidence 
there was not ignorance of the time in which I 
must be in Connecticut to save my bail. And it is 
clearly obvious, they- well knew the time of the ses- 
sion of the court in August, which had been regu- 
larly established for many years ; or if they had 
even forgotten the day of the session, there was 
doubtless an almanac, or register, in the room where 
they were convened, or at most, near at hand, with, 
which they might easily have corrected their me- 
mories, had there been a disposition to give an op- 
portunity of defence. It must surely have been 
clearly apparent, had their time of trial been defer- 
red another week. I could readily have taken a pro 

12^ 



130 

lection from the court, and conveniently have given 
my attendance, without any interference tf Ah the 
suit then pending. Hence the proofs were com- 
plete, that I was to be debarred of any opportunity 
of defence. Furthermore, it was apparent from 
one of the charges, at least, exhibited, that I was 
endorser on the paper of one of their active agents 
in the prosecution, and who was the principal 
cause of my failure, probably from 6 to 8000 dol- 
lars, a circumstance, no doubt, well understood by 
some of the association, for which reason it would 
be impossible for me to give my attendance without 
a protection. All these circumstances clearly 
proved a combination, or plan, to condemn me 
without cause or defence. All I asked were facts, 
and the privilege of defence. Mr. Beach then in- 
formed me the association had heard that I had 
obtained the benefit of the act in this state, and did 
not know that I could safely go over the line. 
They had agreed therefore, said he, if you cannot 
safely come over the line, at the time of trial, and 
will request them to adjourn to a future time, and 
come over the line, it shall be granted. I assured 
him I would be perfectly satisfied with that condi- 
tion. If they would give me the opportunity of 
defence, it would be all I claimed. He gave me 
to understand, this was already agreed upon. 

During our lengthy conversation, Mr. Cowles had 
been merely a spectator. They withdrew and con- 
ferred for some time together. On their return, 
I inquired whether I had not satisfactorily answer- 
ed all their charges. It was signified, there were 
members of the association who could not easily be 
appeased; that if they were to report satisfied, 
there would, no doubt, be others appointed, with 
whom it would be still more difficult for me to nego- 
tiate. I was therefore advised, to let the inquiries 
have an investigation. It however appeared as if 
they were undetermined what course to pursue, 



131 

The next morning Mr. Beach inquired of me; 
whether I was willing to acknowledge the second 
step taken, without retracing the charges, as Mr« 
Cowles, who had been sent out to accompany him 
in a second step, had heard the most of our conver- 
sation, and my consent would expedite the business. 
I replied, if it was any gratification to him, I would 
give my consent. He then presented me with a 
complaint containing their articles of charge ; and 
also a citation to appear before them at the appoint- 
ed trial. They were as follow : 

" To the Rev. Peter Starr, Moderator of the North 

Association of Litchfield county, Connecticut. 

" The undersigned, in obedience to the laws of 
Christ, presents through you to the association, for 
investigation, the following statement: That, as 
appears probable by information given by sundry 
individuals, the Rev. Daniel Parker, a member of 
this association, has not within the two last years, 
and with respect to some things previous which 
were not investigated in his former trial, maintained 
that regard for truth and been governed by those 
principles of integrity which are essential to the 
Christian character, and especially to the character 
of a Christian minister. With respect to his not 
having maintained a due regard for truth, reference 
is had to a deposition or testimony respecting the- 
time in which a certain note was to be paid, given 
to the President, directors and Co. of the bank of 
Bridgport. 

" Also, to a statement of his debts made to Da- 
niel St. John. 

" Also, to a printed statement or petition made to 
the Hon. Superior court of the state of Connecti- 
cut, to be holden at Litchfield, on the first Tuesday 
of February, 1816. 

" And to the nonfulfilment of promises made ip 
Samuel Skiff ^nd Cyrus Swan. 



132 

'4 In his not being governed by the principles of 
integrity, reference is had to the manner in which 
he obtained money from Cyrus Swan and Samuel 
Skiff. 

" Also, to his conveying property to the amount 
he did out of the state, while owing large sums to 
numerous creditors, and to the manner in which he 
did it. 

" Having received the above information from 
sources which the undersigned was bound to re- 
spect, he has laboured with his brother Parker on 
the subject, and obtaining no acknowledgement of 
the facts alleged, he has taken with him a brother of 
the association, who has faithfully united with him. 
But still failing to obtain the Christian satisfaction 
which is due, if the facts alleged are substantiated, 
or an acknowledgement of the fact themselves, the 
subject is now referred to the association for their 
investigation and disposal, at their extra session to 
be holden in Cornwall south meeting-house, on the 
2d Tuesday in August, 1817, at 10 o'clock A. M. 
together with the information obtained, for which 
reference is made to Philo Swift, Daniel St. John, 
Ezekiel St. John, John Lord, Samuel Skiff, Hiram 
Whitconib, Cyrus Swan, John Tallmadge, and 
others ; desiring that his fathers and brethren of 
this venerable body may be guided by Christian 
meekness, tenderness, and faithfulness, and that 
that light which shall save from error may be ob- 
tained. 

" JAMES BEACH. 

" Greenville,- July 10th, 1817V' 

'* The foregoing is a true copy of the original. 
"Attest, JAMES BEACH, 

" PITKIN COWLES."- 

The citation presented was in the following 
words : 



133 

" To the Rev. Daniel Parker. You are hereby 
summoned to appear before the North Association 
of Litchfield county, Connecticut, of which you are 
a member, on the second Tuesday of August next, 
at the south meeting-house in Cornwall, at ten 
o'clock A. M. then and there to answer, before said 
association, to the complaint of unchristian conduct 
with which you have this day been served. 
"JAMES BEACH, 
"PITKIN COWLES. 
" In the name and acting in behalf of 
the association. 
ft Greenville, July 10th, 1817." 

On my perusal of the foregoing complaint, Mf. 
Beach observed, brother Parker, you will particu- 
ly notice, there is no complaint against you ; these 
are only inquiries; and gave me to understand, 
there could not be any censure passed upon me be* 
fore a complaint was presented. This will account 
for my frequent use of both terms, " inquiries" or 
"charges." But it seems the term "inquiries" 
was never after made use of by them. At the trial 
they were expressly called and treated as " char- 
ges ," nor was the trouble taken to file another 
" complaint-" 

I had before observed to Mr. Beach, and again 
repeated, that on his important or fatal charge rela- 
tive to my affidavit, would they only call on Dr. 
Calhoon and William Lewis, they would be per- 
fectly satisfied my affidavit was entirely correct ; 
and it would supersede any necessity of the asso- 
ciation's meeting at the time to which they had ad- 
journed. I derived the assurance, that they should 
be called upon and conversed with. Mr. Beach 
further engaged, that should there not be entire 
satisfaction from conversation with the gentlemen 
above named, there should be no decision against 
me at Cornwall, if I could not attend in person. 



134 

I then requested Messrs. Beach and Cowles to 
accompany me to Parson Hotchkin's, to ascertain 
whether he would be willing to attend at Cornwall, 
as agent for me, at the approaching trial. They 
accompanied me when I obtained the engagement of 
Mr. Hotchkin to attend, extraordinaries excepted. 

Mr. Beach, before his departure, observed as be- 
fore, that the association had agreed or signified, if 
I could not attend the trial at their adjourned 
meeting, but would send a request for them to ad- 
journ to a future time and place, it should he done; 
and added, he would use his utmost influence to 
have it accomplished at any rate. Furthermore, 
the engagement was renewed to confer with Messrs. 
Calhoon and Lewis ; and should not entire satisfac- 
tion be obtained by conversing with them, there 
should be no decision against me at Cornwall 9 
even should I not send a request for an adjourn- 
ment. Hence from this double pledge, I indulged 
the expectation of a fair opportunity of defence, 
and rested in some measure contented. Thus they 
departed. 

The preceding statement of my interview with 
Mr. Beach, I have exhibited to Mr. Cowles, and 
desired him to inform me if there was any particu- 
lar which was not accurately and justly represent- 
ed. After having gone carefully over every point, 
he observed to me, that he knew of nothing which 
was incorrectly stated. 



135 



SECTION IV. 



Ok reflecting upon the subject, after their de- 
parture, it appeared to me clearly evident, it would 
be wholly improper, for several reasons, to suffer 
any investigation of the subject at their adjourned 
meeting, at which it would be impossible for me to 
attend. I well knew there were members of that 
body, who not only had been declared by one of 
their number to be "hostile towards me" but their 
own conduct had abundantly proved this fact in va- 
rious instances, and that very great exertions had 
been made by them, at different times, to procure a 
censure to be passed upon me. The late unex- 
pected and singular proceedings afforded renewed 
evidence, that their exertions were not in the least 
relaxed, but evidently increased. Under these 
circumstances, no agents, not personally acquainted 
with all the particulars, could possibly be instruct- 
ed so as to be enabled to trace them in their mean- 
derings, which might, in all probability, be calcula- 
ted to be as multiform as the " hundred headed 
Hydra," if their former proceedings had afforded a 
just specimen of their dispositions and intentions, 
and thus discharge an act of duty and justice to 
one, unjustly implicated by charges, in attempting 
his defence. Moreover, should there be even a 
partial investigation, and the subject then deferred, 
without any decision, to a future time, unjust insinu- 
ations and representations might justly be expect- 
ed to produce prejudices which the clearest proofs 
could not, but with extreme difficulty, eradicate; 
Further, that it would be improper for certain 
members of that body to act at all in my trial, which 
probably could not be prevented without my personal 
attendance, as neither guHt or modesty, if they 
conducfed as on former occasions, would be expect- 
ed to res-rain them; and those; persons, no do;;bt s . 
the active instruments in introducing and promoting 



136 

the prosecution. In addition, it seemed to be ren- 
dered morally certain, from the apparently unpre- 
cedented measures already adopted and pursued, 
that I must encounter no ordinary course of trial, 
and that the usual defence and proof of entire inno- 
cence^ which perhaps in any other case would be 
perfectly satisfactory, would afford but feeble de- 
fence against censure. With these impressions, 
for experience had already taught me a painful les- 
son relative to some of the characters against whom 
I must now contend for my rights, I applied to 
some of the ablest divines, in the section of coun- 
try in which I resided, for counsel and advice. I 
exhibited to them all the documents and facts of 
which I was possessed, in order to give them a 
clear and full understanding of the subject. Their 
advice was invariably in unison with my impres- 
sions already suggested. They remarked, 1hat it 
would be strictly improper, and that I ought by no 
means to consent to any investigation, when and 
where I should be debarred a personal opportunity 
of defence. That it was obvious all the members 
of that body ought by no means to be permitted to 
sit as judges on the trial : that reputation was too 
dear to be bartered by a voluntary or compulsory 
deprivation of defence ; and that alleged criminals 
were always entitled to the privileges of being 
heard and indulged in a personal vindication. I 
was advised, therefore, to send forward to the 
board, by an agent, a request that a joint committee 
might be appointed, to investigate and decide on 
the inquiries or charges exhibited, and let their de- 
cision be final, not even objecting to the appoint- 
ment of any of their members, however virulent, to 
belong to this committee. If this first proposition 
should be refused, then to have a second request 
presented, in accordance with their own proposals, 
viz. to request them to adjourn to a future time and 
place, and come over the state line, that 1 might 
have an opportunity of defence. It was confident- 



137 

ly believed the first request would be complied 
with, as it must on all hands be acknowledged to 
be reasonable, and in accordance with common 
usages. But should there be an unaccountable re- 
jection of it, the second request would necessarily 
secure me the opportunity of personal defence. 

Their advice I gratefully received. I drew up 
xny communications and exhibited them for in- 
spection, which being approved as suitable and pro- 
per, I forwarded to the association by the Rev. Mr. 
Hotchkin. The communications follow, 

" To the Moderator of the North Association of 
Litchfield county, which Association is to be 
convened, by adjournment, at Cornwall, on the 
second Tuesday of August, 1817. " 
" Rev. Sir — Whereas an inquiry has been in- 
stituted, in relation to myself, before your Rev. 
body, and the second Tuesday of August instant 
assigned to attend the investigation, I desire, sir, to 
communicate to you, to lay before that venerable 
board, several considerations highly important, and 
as I think, reasonable, in order to a candid and 
christian examination of an inquiry so interesting to 
my own character, and deeply involving the inte- 
rests of the Redeemer's kingdom. Fully persuad- 
ed that all the lovers of Zion's cause would desire 
to be actuated by christian meekness and proprie- 
ty, in a concern of so great moment, I would sug- 
gest, in the first place, the indispensable necessity 
of my being enabled to attend, in person, to an in- 
quiry in which I have so deep a personal interest ; 
and that it is impossible, in the nature of things, 
that any substitutes can be informed, in relation to 
inquiries, so as to be enabled to do that justice in 
the investigation, which one who has a personal in- 
terest and knowledge of the instituted inquiries will 
be enabled to do. 

2dly, It is well known, I cannot attend in Con- 
necticut without being liable to arrest and immediate 

13 



138 

confinement in prison, and therefore am precluded 
from an opportunity of making that defence which 
every person would claim as his just right when 
thus arraigned ; and to grant which, would be but 
acting on the principle of doing as one would be 
done by. Under these circumstances, that I may 
have a favourable and suitable opportunity to vin- 
dicate my own cause, so far as truth and duty im- 
pose upon me to discharge to myself, and the cause 
of the great Head of the church, and from which 
investigation I would by no means consent to be 
screened, on any consideration, permit me, sir, to 
suggest the following proposal, viz. that four mem- 
bers of Litchfield north association, whom you shall 
be disposed to designate for that purpose, conjoint- 
ly with four ministers from this region, whom, if 
you please, I will name, although I am not tenacious 
of naming them, be a board to whom to refer this 
investigation and decision, and fix on a reasonable 
length of time for preparation, and also place of 
meeting, say in Northeast or Amenia, in this state, 
where I can attend in person to the investigation, 
and I will cheerfully abide their decision. One 
consideration for this proposal is, that it is impossi- 
ble, even among the best of men, that repdrts circu- 
lated abundantly in the absence of one, who had not 
for a time even the knowledge of what was in cir- 
culation to the injury of his character, nor the least 
opportunity to vindicate himself against such re- 
ports, should have insensibly excited prejudices in 
the mind, which might be calculated to operate 
strongly, though not intentionally, against even en- 
tire innocence, and therefore render it the more 
difficult to come to the light of truth. I ask only 
for the light of truth, and a decision in accordance 
with truth, and that from a board as far as possible 
uninfluenced by the least prejudice or preposses- 
sion. I wish by no means to be screened from cen- 
sure and punishment, if I am justly deserving, and 
by no means to evade a thorough and fair investiga- 



139 

lion of inquiries. Nor would I in the least insinu- 
ate, that any of your venerable body would act 
under the influence of prejudice knowingly or in- 
tentionally ; but only suggest, that under exist- 
ing circumstances it would not be uncharitable to 
imagine, that prejudice might have insensibly and 
imperceptibly gained some ascendancy over the 
minds of the best of men. My own character is in- 
deed of interest to myself, to my family and con- 
nexions, if not to others. And who is there that 
does not place a high estimate on his own character, 
if it is or has been considered worthy I And who 
would not desire a suitable and fair opportunity to 
vindicate his own dear character from attacks, if 
there were just and reasonable grounds to vindicate 
it. I do not design to make any unreasonable re- 
quest, that any person probably would not consider 
suitable, under similar circumstances, to ask ; or in 
the least degree to deviate from the principles of 
propriety, in asking of others what others under 
like circumstances would ask in turn. With these 
impressions, and a full persuasion that you desire to 
be influenced by duty and propriety, and seek for 
nothing else but the light of truth, and to be govern- 
ed by that light, permit me to name the following 
respectable clergymen, to unite with four whom 
you may designate from your association. I should 
name, as the first of these, the reverend and vene- 
rable bearer of this communication, Father Hotch- 
kin, were it not from the consideration that I reside 
in the same village with him, and it might be thought 
that I may have used efforts, if it were possible, to 
produce in him prepossessions favourable to my- 
self, without leading to the whole knowledge of 
facts. I therefore pass to say, Rev. David Por- 
ter, D.D. of Catskill, Rev. Seth Williston, of Dur- 
ham, Rev. Henry B. Stimson, of Windham, and 
Rev. James Jewel, of West Durham, unless there 
should still be a preference, notwithstanding the 
above surmise, for the Rev. Beriah Hotchkin, and 



140 

thus omit the Rev. Mr. Jewel. The high reputa- 
tion of all these worthy ministers is doubtless well 
known to all of the association, if there is not a per- 
sonal acquaintance with all; and that they are 
fathers and brethren in whom you can repose the 
firmest confidence. If with four of the above na- 
med, united with four whom you shall designate 
from Litchfield north association, to meet, say, in 
the month of September next, if you please, near 
the Spencer place, so called, in Northeast, which 
is within about half a mile of the Connecticut line, 
and which will render it nearly as convenient for 
your members, and also the witnesses to attend, as 
fo meet in Connecticut ; and where I may have the 
opportunity of attending in person to the investiga- 
tion, I will esteem it a privilege and a right which 
you will generously bestow at my request, and I 
will cheerfully abide their decision. The Rev. Mr. 
Hotchkin, the bearer of this, who appears at my 
request, 13 authorized to fix on the time and place, 
and make such arrangements respecting it, as I 
would claim to myself to make were I permitted to 
attend your present meeting. And I wish it to be 
particularly remembered, that it will be wholiy im- 
proper at the present meeting of the association, in 
which it is impossible for me to attend, to have the 
least investigation of any inquiry. I must, there- 
fore, wholly and absolutely dissent from the least 
effort of the kind. I trust that no fathers or breth- 
ren of the association would, under similar circum- 
stances, be willing that an investigation, in which 
they were deeply interested, should be entered up- 
on when they earnestly desired, but could not at- 
tend, to vindicate their own characters, or at least 
have the opportunity of bringing subjects clearly 
and fully before a tribunal for investigation. The 
Rev. Mr. Hotchkin, therefore, appears for me and 
in my behalf, merely t© make arrangements, in or- 
der that I may personally attend to the investiga- 
tion of the proposed subjects of inquiry, which I 



141 

claim to be reasonable, but from which I am now 
wholly debarred an attendance ; and farther than 
this his powers do not extend ; nor would it be rea- 
sonable to grant greater powers to any human being 
under these circumstances. That you may be di- 
rected from on high, in the paths of duty and pro- 
priety, is the sincere desire of, reverend sir, yours, 
&c. DANIEL PARKER. 

" Greenville, August 7th, 1817. 
u Rev. Peter Starr, moderator of the 

North Association of Litchfield 

county, to be communicated.'* 

The above communication was directed to be 
presented first, without then making mention of any 
other. If it should be rejected, Mr. Hotchkin was 
requested to present the second. 

" Rev. Peter Starr, Moderator of the North Asso- 
ciation of Litchfield county. 

"Rev. Sir — If the proposal is not acceded to 
which I have already made, by the Rev. Beriah 
Hotchkin, there is but one proposition more, which 
in the nature of things can be made, viz. that the 
association adjourn for a reasonable time, and then 
meet, say, in Northeast, as specified in the other 
communication, so as to give me an opportunity £o 
attend in person to the necessary investigation. 
The reverend bearer is authorised to make the ar- 
rangements for that purpose, as the last and only 
resort ; nor do his powers extend any farther. If 
neither of the above propositions are complied with # 
I can do no more; and must be wholly debarred 
the opportunity of defence. 

" I am, &c. DANIEL PARKER, 

" Greenville, August 7th, 1817. 
" Rev. Peter Starr, to be communicated." 

Before a statement of the proceedings of the as- 
sociation on the second Tuesday of August is given, 

13* 



142 

it may be proper to attend more particularly to the 
articles of charge, as exhibited in the complaint. 

The first article of charge had probably been de- 
signed to be made effectual to disrobe me. The 
purport of it was, that I had given a false affidavit 
respecting the period of time for which a note was 
given to the Bridgeport bank, signed by William 
Lewis and others. 

In order to have a clear understanding of the 
subject, it will be necessary to give a relation of 
the circumstances. In the summer and autumn of 
1814, money had circulated far less liberally than 
before. At that period, there was a number of 
people in the vicinity where I resided, together 
with myself, who were indebted to the Bridgeport 
bank for loans. On most of the paper I was en- 
dorser, or had recommended them to the bank, by 
which means they had obtained their loans. As 
the circulating medium had become scarce, some 
of the debtors were unable to meet their instal- 
ments. In this situation I had, in several instan- 
ces, remitted their respective sums, as endorser ; 
but finding it difficult to meet their regular pay- 
ments, together with my own, I was desired by se- 
veral to write on to the bank, and request the privi- 
lege of a suspension of instalments for one year, 
by rendering the bank secure for their claims. 
This I did, and shortly after, evidently in compli- 
ance with my request, the President of the bank 
inclosed all the claims, of which reference has been 
had, in a letter to Cyrus Swan of Sharon, with di- 
rections to secure them en a credit of one year, and 
dispense with instalments. At this information, 
all the debtors were highly gratified. A day was 
appointed to meet at the office of Mr. Swan, proba- 
bly the 22d of November, and ascertain what secu- 
rity would be acceptable. We did so, when Mr. 
Swan exhibited to us his letter of instructions, 
which authorized him to secure the payments for 
oub year on all the claims^ some of which would not 



143 

fall due, short of forty or fifty days. Mortgage se- 
curity was proposed, if desired. Mr. Swan ob- 
served, he did not wish it; substantial endorsers 
would be sufficient. He then proposed, that the 
claims against Wm. Lewis and Doctor Calhoon, 
together with a particular claim against Daniel St. 
John of three hundred and seventy-five dollars, 
amounting in the whole to nine hundred and 
twelve dollars, on which I had before been en- 
dorser, but had no interest in it, should be put 
into one note signed jointly by them, and instead 
of my name, they should procure as joint signer with 
them Ira Swift. The note was accordingly drawn 
at that time, and in these words : 

" One year from date, value received, we joint- 
ly and severally promise to pay the President and 
Directors and Company of the Bridgeport Bank, 
the sum of nine hundred and twelve dollars, with the 
interest thereon. Witness our hands at Sharon 3 
November 25th, 1814." 

It was at the same time proposed what names 
would be satisfactory on my paper, and others. 
The afternoon of the 25th of November, was then 
agreed upon, to bring in the obligations, which if 
executed agreeably to the requirements made, 
should be satisfactory. 

On the morning of the 25th of November, Mr. 
Lewis called at my house, and observing, it would 
be inconvenient for him to be absent from home in 
the afternoon, and expecting I should necessarily 
attend at Mr. Swan's office, requested me to carry 
his note, (which has generally been distinguished 
by the term of the " Lewis note,") and deliver it to 
Mr. Swan, as it was executed in conformity with 
the requisitions made. I received and examined 
the note, and found it was faithfully executed as 
Mr. Swan had proposed. In the afternoon I went 
to the office of Mr. Swan and delivered the note 



144 

with my own hand, and also my own notes, execu- 
ted as had been required. Mr. Swan pronounced 
them all to be good and acceptable to him ; yet he 
must communicate to the bank what security he 
had received, and obtain their approbation. I 
should think within the period of a week, an agent, 
Mr. Wakeman, was sent up from the bank to take 
mortgage security on those notes ; and observed, 
that the president of the bank had asserted, he 
would take no man's endorsement in Connecticut, 
for one year. Mortgages were of course immedi- 
ately executed to secure all the claims. For secu- 
rity of the " Lewis note," Mr. Lewis mortgaged a 
piece of land to secure the whole, although but 
about half was his just share. 

About the middle of the next month the failure 
took place. Very soon after this event, Mr. Swan 
thought proper to attach the property of the inno- 
cent joint signer with Mr. Lewis, viz. Ira Swift. 
Mr. Lewis had already mortgaged, for the security 
of the note, apiece of land, which he had often told 
me he could take 1600 dollars for at any time he 
would consent to part with it ; yet he estimated it 
at a higher rate, and would not dispose of it for that 
sum. Mr. Swan was doubtless not ignorant of this 
fact, when the mortgage was taken from Mr. Lewis, 
and also when he proceeded to distress Mr. Swift* 
He also proceeded at the same time to attach the 
property of an underwriter of mine, viz. Mr. Russel 
Millard. Mr. Swan had called at my house when 
he was going out, and I had inquired of him wheth- 
er he was going a distance, and when he should re- 
turn. He gave me no answer, except that he 
should not be gone probably over three days. On 
his return, upon the same day, he called at my 
house. When I observed, he had made an expe- 
ditious tour for a three days journey, a gentlemen 
then present, doubtless noticing that he appeared 
to be unwilling I should know where he had been, 
and what he had been doing, made the inquiry of 



146 

me, if I were apprised of what Mr, Swan had been 
about that day ? I answered I did not know. He 
observed, he has been attaching Ira Swift's proper- 
ty, as under writer on the " Lewis note." More- 
over, said he, Mr. Swan has also been attaching 
Russel Millard's property, as endorser on your pa= 
per, for which you have given mortgage security* 
I was truly amazed! I inquired of Mr. Swan if 
this was true ? He acknowledged it was. I inquir- 
ed of him, by what law he could attach property 
eleven months before the note fell due, and hold 
the property? His answer was, that he could attach 
three years before a note was due, if he pleased. I 
observed, he could indeed do this, to alarm the 
creditors of a benevolent underwriter, if the under- 
writer was so unfortunate as to owe a few shillings 
to others at the same time, and thus occasion a 
plundering of his property to be distributed be« 
tween an unprincipled attorney and his rapacious 
officers. But in the present case he knew T the un- 
derwriters had no interest in the claims; and fur- 
thermore, that he had already declared that the ob- 
ligations were abundantly secured by mortgages ; 
and also, that neither of them could be called upon 
under one year from the date of the notes ; and that 
one month had not yet elapsed. He did not claim 
that either note was on demand for which he had 
issued attachments, but attempted to justify him- 
self by observing, he had a right to attach any 
man's property three years before a note became 
due. I observed, that his conduct was very extra- 
ordinary ; and it appeared to me obvious, he was 
desirous of business. I should deem it my duty to 
report him to the bar : If his professional brethren 
approved of his conduct, they would undoubtedly 
manifest it, by permitting his continuance ; if not, 
he would be degraded. I added, this would not be 
the only information which I ought to communicate 
to the bar. His singular conduct, in relation to 
some fat cattle cf mine, which had been attached. 



146 

and which he had now gotten in his possession, for 
a less sum by an hundred dollars or more, than I 
had understood, both by him and the officer, to have 
been offered for them, rendered it suitable and pro- 
per that he should be reported. 

Not long after, I was passing his office, and he 
very complaisantly invited me in. He appeared 
very affable, and remarked that he was indebted to 
me on book, i replied, I did not know it. I re- 
marked, I knew I had advanced him property be- 
fore, but he had also done business for me which I 
had supposed would overbalance my charges. 
He observed, he should charge me little or nothing 
for what he had done, as I appeared to be dissatis- 
fied with his late proceedings ; and he was unwil- 
ling I should entertain unfavourable feelings towards 
him. He footed up his account, and said he owed 
me several dollars, which he immediately present- 
ed. I assured him I had no demands against him ; 
yet if he felt disposed to give me the money, I 
would cheerfully receive it as a present. He re- 
quested I would receive it. His intentions appear- 
ed obvious by this procedure. I reflected, that a 
little would be better than nothing for the late loss 
I had sustained in relation to the cattle. 1 there- 
fore received it, and he balanced his books. He 
then observed, he should butcher a particular fat 
cow very soon, w r hich belonged to the lot of fat cat- 
tle already referred to ; and added, as I had felt 
that he had conducted dishonorably relative to the 
cattle, he would send me a quarter of the cow as 
a present. I thanked him, and assured him I would 
cheerfully receive it, which engagement he after- 
wards fulfilled. As it was obvious to meiiis inten- 
tions were to purchase a forbearance to report him 
to the bar, although at a very low rate, and indulg- 
ing the hope he would yet remunerate still further 
towards what I esteemed my just demand, I with- 
held the information. But I have never since re- 
ceived one farthing, except in the foregoing charge, 



14? 

u that I had borrowed of him one hundred dollarau 
to be replaced before sunset of the same day, to- 
gether with the manner in which it was obtained." 
And this I conclude would be his own illustration 
on that point, if his conscience were permitted to 
do its office. 

His attachment of Ira Swift's property on the 
Lewis note, it seems, produced much alarm on the 
part of Mr. Swift ; and soon after, Mr. Swift nego- 
tiated with Mr. Swan, that in consideration of Mr. 
Swan's releasing his hold by attachment, Mr. Swift 
mortgaged his farm to secure the " Lewis note." 
Respecting his suit instituted against Mr. Millard, 
my endorser, nothing more was done, to my know- 
ledge. ^ 

The next information that I had, relative to the 
** Lewis note," was in August, 1816, when attend- 
ing the trial of my petition at Litchfield. Doctor 
Calhoon, one of the signers of the note, called on 
me and made the inquiry whether the Lewis note 
was not given ;i one year from date." I answered 
that it was " one year" or " twelve months," which 
expression I could not say : The understanding 
was, for a year ; and that this was the fact in rela- 
tion to all the notes given to the Bridgeport bank 
on the 25th of November, 1814. Doct. Calhoon 
observed, they had ever entertained that idea? but 
that Mr. Swan, who, it seems, had always held the 
note in his hands, had declared that it was given on 
demand. I assured him it was not so ; for I was 
present at the time the note was drawn, and after 
it was executed, I delivered it myself; and that 
this was the fact in respect to all the notes given at 
that time to the Bridgeport bank ; and this was in 
compliance with my original request to the bank 
for a suspension of instalments ; and also in ac- 
cordance with the president's letter, which we read 
at the time. Doct. Calhoon added, this had ever 
been their uniform impression, at, and after the 
signing of the nQte, 



148 

In January, 1817, 1 received a letter from Doct. 
Calhoon, from which the following is an extract: 

" I wish you to give me a statement of all the 
notes due at the Bridgport bank, the time of pay- 
ment, and the security given upon them, as it is 
evident some of the notes are paid by the foreclo- 
sures on the mortgages, and also in money. The 
note of Mr. Lewis of 912 dollars is paid by a fore- 
closure on his land. Swan, also, you recollect, 
commenced a suit on the note, in which suit he is 
defeated. He has now brought a petition against 
Ira Swift. There appears something strange about 
it. When the? note was given, it was the under- 
standing, that the note, if Mr. Swift signed with us* 
should be made payable " twelve months after 
date." The upper line is now missing. The 
note reads as the copy enclosed." 

" Value received, we jointly and severally prom- 
ise to pay the President and Directors and Compa- 
ny of the Bridgeport Bank, the sum of nine hund- 
red and twelve dollars, with the interest thereon. 
" Witness our hands at Sharon, Nov. 25th, 1814." 
« DANIEL ST. JOHN. 
« WILLIAM LEWIS. 
[Copy.] « JOHN CALHOON. 

« IRA SWIFT." 

" I wish you to inform particularly on the sub- 
ject, as, if the note has been altered, let the ini- 
quity fall where it will, we have a right to avail our- 
selves of it. You must be acquainted with the 
facts, as the business was done in your presence 
by Mr. Wakeman, the agent of the bank. 1 be- 
lieve this is also the case with some of the other 
notes, as in writing the first line of the notes, 
" twelve months after date," could be cut off, if the 
Jines were sufficiently wide, and not be discovered. 



149 

Pray let us have all the information you have on 
this subject, as it is likely your testimony will be 
wanted. I am, &c. 

" JOHN CALHOON. 
" Cornwall, Jan. 21st, 1817." 

In consequence of the above request, together 
with the verbal request of the bearer, I made an 
affidavit, that the note of Win. Lewis and others to 
the Bridgeport bank, for 912 dollars, dated the 25th 
of November, 1814, was given for " one year" or 
" twelve months from date," which phraseology I 
could not say, but the idea was for " one year ;" 
and that this was the fact in respect to all the notes 
given to the Bridgeport bank on the same day. 

This affidavit, it appears, was improved before 
the superior court of the state of Connecticut, holden 
at Litchfield in the February following. Yet I had 
not received the least information on the subject, 
and, indeed, it had wholly gone from my memory 
when Mr. Beach presented his charge against me, 
of giving a false affidavit. When I was able to 
ascertain what he referred to, I presented the letter 
of Doct. Calhoon, already quoted, in proof of the 
correctness of my affidavit, and also the inclosed 
copy of the note, which Mr. Swan then claimed as 
the original. I stated all the circumstances in 
the hearing of Messrs. Beach and Cowles, relative 
to my writing to the Bank at the request of others, 
to procure the postponement of instalments for 
one year, by making the bank secure. That the 
sending of the claims in favour of the bank, to- 
gether with the letter of instructions to Mr. Swan 
from the president, to secure the claims for one 
year, which letter was exhibited to us at Mr. Swan's 
office, was evidently in compliance with my re- 
quest; that the obligations were drawn for " one 
year," or " twelve months," and accepted by Mr. 
Swan, as satisfactory security, on the 25th Novem- 
ber, 1814 ; but by reason of their not being accept- 

14 



150 

able to the bank, an agent was sent up to secure 
the claims by mortgage, which would seem incon- 
sistent if the notes had been on demand ; for, in 
that case, they would, no doubt, have laid hold of 
the endorsers instead of asking for mortgages. 
Further, that no instance, probably, could ever be 
found of any bank receiving a note without specify- 
ing any period of time for payment, and not even 
on demand. In every view, therefore, it was in- 
consistent to indulge an idea that it was possible 
the " Lewis note" could have been given on de- 
mand, or rather not on demand. I furthermore 
observed, there never was a fact more perfectly fa- 
miliar to my mind, than that all the notes were giv- 
en for " one year.' 5 I assured them, Messrs. Cal- 
hoon and Lewis, who were debtors on that claim, 
would give the same information. Besides, I had 
not the least concern in the claim, either directly 
or indirectly, and therefore there could not be a 
pitiful plea, on any ground, for stating an untruth. 
But all was unavailing with Mr. Beach. The fatal 
charge must be exhibited, and even head the " char- 
ges or inquiries" in the complaint. A time and 
place of trial had also been wisely fixed upon, that 
I might not be permitted to attend and defend my- 
self against this fatal charge ; of course the cen- 
sure must necessarily be inflicted. 

Thus situated, I employed a very respectable 
trustee of Greeneville academy, Mr. Truman San- 
ford, to accompany me in an interview with Messrs. 
Calhoon, Lewis, and others, antecedent to the trial, 
lest it should prove possible there was some unac- 
countable forge tfulness, or mistake, relative to the 
subject. We accordingly went on to the line of 
Connecticut. Mr. Sanford proceeded into the 
state and procured Messrs. Calhoon, Lewis, and 
others, to come out to converse with me. 

On my way in Northeast* I met with Mr. Wake- 
man, who was the agent for the bank. I inquired 
of him whether he did not recollect the fact, rela^ 



151 

five to the period of time for which the notes were 
given. He said he did not. I reminded him, that 
the very circumstance of his coming up to secure 
the claims for the bank by mortgages, as he stated 
at that time, was in consequence of the President^ 
declaring, that he would take no man's endorsement 
in Connecticut, for " one year." I observed, fhat 
his mission must have originated from Mr. Swan's 
report to the bank, how the claims were secured, 
viz : by names, for one year, which not being ac- 
ceptable, he was sent to take mortgages. Mr. 
Wakeman replied, he did not recollect particular- 
ly. I observed, Mr. Swan's communications re- 
lative to the security he had taken must unques- 
tionably be with the bank. He answered, that 
they undoubtedly were. I desired him to exa- 
mine, immediately on his return to the bank, and 
inform me by letter whatever the result might be. 
He engaged to do it. He then remarked, he had 
seen Mr. Swan not long before, who in his solici- 
tude observed, that Daniel St. John had asserted 
that the " Lewis note" was in my hand writing* 
At this intelligence I was surprised ! I inquired 
of Mr. Wakeman whether it was a fact, that the 
note was in my hand writing? He said he could 
not tell. I remarked, that these things were singu- 
lar, and looked suspicious, and inquired why Mr. 
St. John should have interest on this subject? In- 
deed, I felt that I might justly entertain doubts 
whether I had ever seen the paper which was then 
claimed to be the " Lewis note." Mr. Wakeman 
observed, it had never been in the bank ; Mr. Swan 
had had the care of it from the time it was given. 
He again renewed his promise of writing to me im- 
mediately on his return, what Mr. Swan's commu- 
nications to the bank were. But I have not heard 
from Mr. Wakeman since, except that he tarried 
a long period at Mr. Swan's, on his return at that 
time ; if I rightly remember, longer than he told me 
it would be before he expected to reach Bridgeport. 



152 

I have since written to the cashier of the bank, 
stating the subject at full length, and requested 
him tx> write me the facts by the return of mail. 
Not receiving any intelligence from him, I sent a 
messenger expressly to the bank, requesting the 
information. The cashier acknowledged the re- 
ceipt of my letter, but stated that it had escaped 
his mind. He engaged he would attend to the re- 
quest the first opportunity, and write to me by 
mail. No further information has ever been re- 
ceived from that source. 

Messrs. Calhoon and Lewis, deacon Woodward 
and others, called upon me at the request of Mr. 
Sanford. On their arrival, I inquired of Mr. Lew- 
is, whether it was possible I could have laboured 
under any mistake relative to the period of time 
for which his note was given to the Bridgeport 
bank, viz : " one year or twelve months from date?" 
Mr. Lev, is replied, " thrii he had said he was wil- 
ling to lay his head down on a block, and have it 
chopped off, if the note was not given ' one year, 
or twelve months' from date." I observed, you 
say " you have said so," I wish to know your pre- 
sent impressions, and what you will say if called 
upon under oath ? He answered, " I shall say the 
same. 53 I then put the same inquiry to Doct. Cal- 
hoon. He replied, he should say the same; he 
never had entertained any other idea. He added, 
moreover, we gave an indemnity bond to Ira 
Swift, at the time he signed the note with us, in 
which bond the note is particularly described 
" payable one year from date," and the bond is 
now in existence. I then inquired, if they had 
lately seen this note, and knew in whose hand wri- 
ting it was? Messrs. Calhoon and Lewis both an- 
swered, that they had never been able to see the 
note after the mortgage was given. They had re- 
peatedly tried to see it, but could not. I then re- 
quested Deacon Woodward to call on Mr. Swan, 
where it was stated the note probably was, (al- 



153 

though there had been a foreclosure on Mr. Lewis's 
mortgage, and the note of course should be lodged 
with the clerk of the court,) and endeavour to 
procure the note, that I might see it. The dea- 
con called on Mr. Swan, and soon returned with 
information from him, that the note was not in his 
hands ; that it was near by, and he could procure 
it in a little time ; and if I would fix on a time and 
place where he could meet me, he would bring the 
note that I might see it. It would seem he did not 
know at the time, I was in that region. I then de- 
sired deacon Woodward to return immediately, and 
request Mr. Swan to get the note and come directly 
to me. My request was communicated, and Mr. 
Swan speedily arrived. I desired him to give me 
a sight of the note. He observed, he had not got 
it with him ; that it was at Mr. Philo Swift's, in 
Cornwall, about ten miles within the state of Con- 
necticut. He informed me I might see it, if I 
would call on Mr. Swift. I assured him it was 
strange he should make a proposition, which he 
knew I could not comply with, either to obviate 
my seeing it, or to entrap me. I requested him to 
inform me why this note was at Mr. Swift's, when 
it belonged to the clerk of the court. He answer- 
ed, it did not belong to the clerk of the court. 
Doct. Calhoon, who had long served as a deputy 
sheriff, assured him he had never known of a note 
being lodged elsewhere, than with the clerk of the 
court, after judgment had been obtained. Doct. 
Calhoon and Mr. Lewis then added, they had not 
been able to learn, before, where the note was, and 
wished to see it. I then desired Mr. Swan to 
write aline to Mr. Swift, for deacon Woodward to 
carry, requesting Mr. Swift to deliver the note to 
him to bring to us, that we might see it. This he 
refused. I then desired him to write to Mr. Swift, 
by deacon Woodward, requesting Mr. Swift to 
come out with the note himself, and I would pay 
him for his trouble. Mr. Swan refused to do even 

14* 



U4 

this ; but still told me I might call on Mr. Swift 
myself, and see the note. This evasion or snare 
appeared to be his excuse. Finding it was impos- 
sible for me to see the note, I asked him, in whose 
hand writing the note was. He answered, " Esquire 
St. John says it is your hand writing." I replied, 
"I did not ask what Esquire St. John said on the 
subject ; I ask you in whose hand writing the note 
is?" observing to him, he knew my hand writing 
and Mr. St. John's perfectly well. He finally an- 
swered, " he should say it was St* John's writing." 
I replied, " I should expect it w r ould prove so in all 
probability, from what I had heard." Mr. Swan 
proceeded to state that the note was given on de- 
mand, and that all the notes given to the Bridge- 
port bank, pa the 25th November, 1814, were 
given on demand. I assured him this was the first 
time I had ever heard that idea advanced, relative 
to any of the other notes. He asserted, it was a 
fact. Mr. Lewis then observed, that he must be 
under a mistake, and referred him to the letter 
from the president of the bank, which he had ex- 
hibited to us, when we first assembled at his office, 
"which expressly authorized him to take security for 
one year ; and requested him to produce the letter, 
Mr. Swan replied, he had no such letter. Mr. Lewis 
assured him he had shown us such a letter. He 
answered, he knew nothing about it. I thought it 
extraordinary, that a faithful attorney should have 
lost his letter of instructions, or have been ignorant 
of them, especially in transacting business of great 
responsibility, and a letter also which he had ex- 
hibited to others for their perusal. 

I requested Messrs. Calhoon and Lewis to call 
on Philo Swift, and examine the note, the first op- 
portunity. They informed me they should, as 
they were desirous to see it. Sometime after, Dr. 
Calhoon informed me, they had called to see it, but 
could not be gratified ; that they afterwards called 
and saw it. He observed, that Mr. Lev/is re- 



155 

quested him to inform me, as I received the impres- 
sion, that on seeing the note he was more dissatisfi- 
ed than ever ; that he should endeavour to see it 
again, and would inform me further on the subject. 
This is the last intelligence I have received from 
him respecting it. 

On my return home, reflecting on the extraordi- 
nary declaration of Mr. Swan, that all the notes 
given on the 25th November were drawn on de- 
mand, I examined among my papers, not entertain- 
ing the least expectation that I should be able to 
discover the notes which 1 had given, or that they 
were in my possession, yet I very fortunately found 
two of them, and also a memorandum of names 
which Mr. Swan had selected for endorsers, on my 
notes, at our first meeting at his office. These 
were the notes which I had delivered to him, when 
I delivered Mr. Lewis's note, on the 25th of No- 
vember, 1814, executed agreeably to his previous 
requirements, and which he pronounced satisfacto- 
ry to himself, although he must report to the bank 
and receive their sanction ; and respecting which 
Mr. Wakeman, as agent for the bank, soon after 
came up to secure by mortgage. These notes are 
both drawn " one year from date" endorsed in 
conformity with the memorandum already mention- 
ed, and dated Sharon, November 25th, 1814. Im- 
mediately on this discovery, I exhibited the notes 
to Mr. Sanford, who had lately accompanied me, 
and had heard Mr. Swan assert that all the notes 
given on the said 25th of November were on de- 
mand. Mr. Sanfordr on examining them and the 
memorandum, observed, that it was singular that I 
had been enabled to produce so complete evidence, 
that the fault had not been in the least on my part? 
and that these documents clearly proved the late 
declaration of Mr. Swan to be entirely untrue<: 
These notes are r and will be, ready at all times 
for inspection during my life, and at the general 



156 

judgment of an assembled universe, these facts will 
be eminently conspicuous to the guilt and confu- 
sion of those who have diligently striven, to pervert 
the truth and bring a blot upon innocence, for the 
purpose of screening the guilty. 

It may be proper here to insert further docu- 
ments xo which I had referred Mr. Beach, but 
which were by him and the association wholly neg- 
lected. I obtained them soon after their trial, and 
present them as incontestible evidence of the cor- 
rectness of my affidavit, and which they would have 
duly had before them, had they fulfilled the en- 
gagement on the part of Mr. Beach. 

" I, John Calhoon, of lawful age, depose and say, 
that a certain note given to the Bridgeport bank, 
dated the 25th day of November, 1814, for nine 
hundred and twelve dollars, signed by Daniel St. 
John, Wm. Lewis, myself, and Ira Swift, was given 
to secure a debt due to the said bank ; and it was 
my uniform impression that the said note was made 
payable one year after date, and what made the 
impression still stronger on my mind was, that the 
three first signers to the note executed to Ira Swift 
an indemnity in nearly the following words, viz. * we 
hereby engage to indemnify Ira Swift from any 
damage he may sustain, in consequence of his sign- 
ing a note of nine hundred and twelve dollars, pay- 
able * twelve months' after date to the Bridgeport 
bank, he having no interest in the same, only sign- 
ing as security ;' and that the indemnity, according 
to my best recollection, was in the hand-writing of 
Daniel St. John, Esq." 

Question by D. Parker. " Have you not re- 
peatedly said, that the above note, given to the 
Bridgeport bank, aside from any reference to the 
indemnity bond to Swift, was made payable ' one 
year/ or i twelve months/ from the date of said 
notes V 9 



157 

Answer. " Yes, 1 have, with a full persuasion 
that it was so, from my acquaintance with the ch> 
cumstances at the time of executing said note. 
" JOHN CALHOON." 
"Litchfield county, ss. Litchfield, August 28tb r 
18IT, personally appeared John Calhoon, signer of 
.the within affidavit, and made oath to the truth of 
the same, before me. 

" NATHANIEL P. PERRY, Jus. Peace.* 

" I, William Lewis, of lawful age, depose and 
say, that it was my full belief that a certain note 
of nine hundred and twelve dollars, signed by my- 
self, Daniel St* John, Jobn Calhoon, and Ira Swift, 
-was made payable c one year/ or "twelve months/ 
after date, which note was dated the 25th day of 
November, 1814, and payable to the Bridgeport 
bank ; in which belief I was the more confirmed, in 
consequence of the indemnity given to Ira Swift, 
describing the note as payable ; one vear after 
date." 5 

Question hy B. Parker. " Have you not said 
you would be willing to risk your life that the note 
aforesaid was made payable ' one year/ or ' twelve 
months/ from date ?" 

Answer. " I was so fully in the belief that those 
were the facts, that there could be no doubt on the 
subject, and however strong the expressions, I did 
not think myself unjustified in making them." 

Question. " In whose hand-writing are the in- 
demnity and note ?" 

Answer. " I am clearly of opinion, that the in- 
demnity is in the hand-writing of Daniel St. John, 
Esq. and the note also appears to be in the same 
hand. WILLIAM LEWIS." 

" County of Litchfield, ss. Cornwall, August 
29th, 1817, personally appeared William Lewis, 
signer of the foregoing affidavit, and made oath 
that the same contains the truth, before me. 

" JOHN CALHOON, Justice Peace." 



158 

The following is a certified copy of the bond of 
indemnity given to Ira Swift, for his security, at 
the time when he signed the "Lewis note." 

" We, the subscribers, jointly and severally 
promise, that we will bear harmless Ira Swift, from 
any liability on a note of nine hundred and twelve 
dollars, payable « one year from this date' to the 
President, Directors and Company, of the Bridge- 
port bank, the said Swift having no interest in the 
said note, but only signer to the same as security. 
" DANIEL ST. JOHN, 
" WILLIAM LEWIS, 
" JOHN CALHOON. 
"November 25th, 1814." 

" County of Litchfield, ss. Cornwall, August 
29th, 1817. I hereby certify, that the within is a 
true copy of the original bond of indemnity given 
Ira Swift. 

"JOHN CALHOON, Justice Peace." 

I ask whether more conclusive evidence could 
possibly be furnished to substantiate a fact? Here 
are two affidavits from the original signers of the 
note, to confirm the correctness of my affidavit, 
and one of them makes use of very strong language, 
declaring he was willing to risk his life, that the 
note was made payable " one year," or " twelve 
months from date." 

Moreover, the bond of indemnity, given to Mr. 
Swift, would place the subject beyond all doubt, 
were there no other trace of evidence respecting it. 
This instrument was drawn for the security of the 
underwriter, Mr. Swift ; and unless it should de- 
scribe the note accurately, it could not afford him 
security ; nor would he have accepted of it for that 
purpose. It must therefore have been a true tran- 
script of the note, which lay before them when the 



159 

bond was drawn, and both, as appears evidently by 
the dates, were executed at the same time. 

The second article of charge, to wit, " a state- 
ment of his debts made to Daniel St. John," &c. 
has already been abundantly proved to be unfound- 
ed; a circumstance which must have been well un* 
derstood by Mr. St. John at the time. Had he 
such a statement as he represented, how gladly 
would he have exhibited it. This he has never 
done, but urged the pitiful plea that he could not 
find it. It has already been shown, and I trust sub- 
stantially proved, that he was greatly indebted to 
me ; that for some years before, / had received a 
deed of his home-farm, as security for my advances 
and responsibility for him, (which circumstance 
must entirely destroy the least foundation for his 
declaration of " a statement of my debts made to 
him,") but which deed was eventually lost by his 
violating his plighted honorary promises. In ad- 
dition, his own books had shown, that I had ad- 
vanced for him, within the last nine months before 
the failure, more than one thousand dollars, and he 
declared the same to be due me by reckoning, very 
soon after ; which sum was very considerably en- 
hanced afterwards, by flagrant acts of turpitude, as 
has been already clearly exhibited and substantia- 
ted. But not contented, as it would seem, with 
what he had already obtained, I have been credibly 
informed, by several who had been indebted to me, 
and on whom I had drawn orders to creditors for 
these demands, that soon after my removal, Mr. 
St. John called on them and forbade their payment 
of the orders I had drawn, stating that I was largely 
indebted to him, and payment must be made to 
him. But could his after-conduct of still more hor- 
rid guilt be obliterated in the sight of God and man, 
most cordially would I expunge all his preceding 
acts of wickedness, and sincerely rejoice at his re- 
lease from the awful consequences which must ne- 
cessarily await him . 



iso 

*The third article of charge related u to a printed 
statement, or petition, tofthe Hon. Superior Court 
ef the state of Connecticut," &c. An honest mind 
would seemingly be lost to divine what was intend- 
ed by this charge. If it was on account of the 
amount which the statement embraced, and I could 
conceive of nothing else, for surely no oath could 
be required in relation to it, on which could be 
grounded another charge of incorrectness, then I 
was prepared to answer it, as I supposed, satisfac- 
torily. 

I have before observed, that at the time of fail- 
ure, I had made an estimate of my property at cost ; 
and could it be disposed ©f at that estimate, not- 
withstanding all my losses, expenses, and charities, 
it would still leave me about eight thousand dollars 
good. In my printed notice to my creditors to 
prepare the way for the benefit of the insolvent act 
in Connecticut, it was incumbent to notify every 
endorser, even where the original sum was previ- 
ously specified, and perhaps the same amount wa» 
already doubly secured ; and possibly there were 
several endorsers on the same claim, all of whom 
must be notified^ and thus the same sum must ne- 
cessarily be increased as often as it was repeated. 
Thus thousands of dollars might, perhaps, be mere- 
ly a repetition of one sum, and many of the endor- 
sers at the same time still greatly my debtors. This 
was in truth the case* in many instances. After 
giving Mr. Beach, therefore, a statement of the cir- 
cumstances, I proposed to present him with a print- 
ed copy of my petition, as a justification on my 
part to repel the charge. 

The 4th charge, " was the nonfulfilment of pro- 
mises made to Samuel Skiff and Cyrus Swan." 

In relation to Mr. Swan, it is presumed, a suffi- 
cient exposition has already been given, in the 123d 
page. The charge was not only unfounded, but 
false in all its parts, which must have been well 
known to Mr. Swan, if not to others. Indeed, I 



161 

will here premise that future documents, which will 
be inserted, will disclose the painful truth, that 
Mr. Swan does not always declare the truth. 

In respect to Mr. Skiff, although he would not 
and did not appear to testify, or even attend the 
trial, yet I will cheerfully meet the charge, and dis- 
close the manner in which I received money of 
him. By his own declaration, as soon as he heard 
of my failure, he called upon me without delay and 
offered his friendly aid for my relief. Immediately 
on his entering my house, he tendered me the loan 
of a thousand dollars or more, in money, which he 
exhibited to me at the time, directing me to make 
use of it, if I needed it and it would afford me re- 
lief. I thanked him for his kindness, and informed 
him it would not remove the difficulties. I added, 
if I should be in want of two or three hundred dol- 
lars, I would give him notice the coming week, and 
for the security of the money, I would deliver over 
school bills, then due me, to an amount sufficient to 
indemnify him. The following week I notified 
him that I should be obliged by the loan of three 
hundred dollars, which I received of him, and for 
which I delivered to him school claims to a greater 
amount. These claims were placed by Mr. Skiff, 
for a time, in the hands of an assistant in my school, 
to receive the payments, and remit to him. In the 
absence of the assistant, they were occasionally de- 
livered to Mr. Bosworth, who resided in my family. 
About two hundred and thirty dollars, if I rightly 
remember, had been paid over to Mr. Skiff; but 
among the uncancelled demands was the first on the 
list delivered to him, against Win. Parkman, of 
Hudson, and another against Benj. W. Adams, 
who, very soon after the delivery of the claims to 
Mr. Skiff, removed to Pompey, in the state of New- 
York. The amount of both these demands was 
about one hundred dollars. I had used all suitable 
exertions to collect these claims, but they were not 
gathered when I left Connecticut. After my re?> 

15 



162 

-tnoval to Greenville, Mr. Skiff called on me and 
requested me to draw orders to him for these claims, 
which had not been done before on any of the 
claims, although the demands had been assigned 
to him. I accordingly drew the orders and deliver- 
ed to him, which he pronounced to be correct, and 
departed. The first claim was afterwards arrang- 
ed. The latter has not, to my knowledge, Mr. 
Skiff having neglected the method I proposed to 
obtain it, and had not called upon him ; yet there 
were other bills still unsatisfied. 

Soon after the delivery of the above orders, I 
received the foregoing charge by Mr, Beach. It 
seemed to be grounded upon a suggestion, that 
there were no such persons as those on whom I had 
lately drawn the orders to Mr. Skiff. I exhibited 
to Mr. Beach the original memorandum of bills de- 
livered to Mr. Skiff, which confirmed my statement, 
and the order in which the claims stood, as I had 
specified ; and that these claims could not be new 
to Mr. Skiff, as he had known of my efforts to col- 
lect both -before 1 left Connecticut. 

Mr. Beach had also charged me with criminality, 
respecting the manner in which I obtained the loan 
of Mr. Skiff, This I understood him to be assert- 
ed by Philo Swift. The following affidavits will 
probably put the accusers to silence. 

M I, Oramel Bosworth, being duly sworn, do de- 
pose and say, that within a very few days after the 
failure of Mr. Parker, in December, IS 14, and I 
should think on the same week of his failure, Sam- 
uel Skiff came to Mr. Parker, and voluntarily made 
the < offer of a loan to Mr. Parker of one thousand 
dollars ;' that Mr. Parker thanked him for his gene- 
rous willingness to contribute to his aid in trying 
circumstances, but did not stand in need of the 
loan ; at any rate, if Mr. Parker should wish for 
any part of it, he would let him know the coming 
week* I should think it was less than a week after 



163 

this, Mr. Skiff called on Mr, Parker, and it seems 
let him take three hundred dollars, for which Mrr 
Parker delivered over school bills to a much great* 
er amount, so as to ensure Mr. Skiff the principal 
and interest of his money, whenever the school 
bills should be collected. These school bills were 
taken on a paper, and, at two different times, put 
into my hands by Mr. Skiff, to receive the money 
when paid in and deliver it over to Mr. Skiff. On 
the list of school bills was one bill against Wm. 
Parkman, son of Thomas Parkman, deceased, of 
Hudson, and the first bill on the list ; also another 
bill against Benj. W. Adams, then of Amenta, but 
soon after removed, as I was then informed, to the. 
town of Pompey, in this state ; that previous to 
Mr. Parker's removal from Sharon, I was knowing 
to his sending by Anson Norton, to endeavour to 
collect this bill cf the said Adams, as Mr. Skiff's 
debt, in order that it might be paid over to Mr. 
Skiff; and that the said Anson, on his return, in- 
formed, that he had not been able to collect the 
debt, on account of the scarcity of money. 

« ORAMEL BOSWORTH." 
" State of New- York, ss. Greene county, person- 
ally appeared Oramel Bosworth, signer of the above 
affidavit, and made oath, that what is therein con- 
tained is substantially true, before me, at Green- 
ville, this 2rth of March, 1818. 

ABU AH REED, Justice Peace." 



a 



" I, Anson Norton, of lawful age, depose and 
say, that in the month of March, 1816, I made a 
journey to Onondaga, in the state of New-York ; 
that previous to my going out, I was requested to 
take an order on Thos. Adams, of Pompey, for a 
school bill which w 7 as due to Mr. Parker, for the 
board and tuition of his son, Benj. W. Adams, of 
about fifty dollars, which claim I was informed be- 
longed to Samuel Skiff. This claim I was request- 
ed to carry out- to Pompey and collect for the be- 



164 

aefit of the said Skiff. I accordingly called on the 
said Adams for payment of the claim ; but he not 
having money on hand to meet the claim, which he 
acknowledged to be justly due, nor able at that 
time to borrow the money to meet the same, on ac- 
count of the scarcity of money, he promised, as 
soon as he was able to gather the money, that he 
would meet the same. 

" ANSON NORTON." 
M Sworn before me, at Sharon, this 4th day of 
December, 1817. 

" ANSEL STERLING, Justice Peace." 

The complaint or inquiries further state, " in hi» 
not being governed by the principles of integrity, 
reference is had to the manner in which he obtained 
money from Samuel Skiff and Cyrus Swan." The 
affidavit of Mr. Bosworth proves the manner of ob- 
taining money from Mr. Skiff; and, I apprehend 
leaves Mr. Swiff s insinuations on this subject, as 
stated by Mr. Beach, in a pitiful plight, probably 
the most suitably disposed of by classing them 
with his former testimony given before the associa- 
tion and superior court. The manner respecting 
Mr. Swan has already been rendered abundantly 
obvious. 

The last charge is, " his conveying property to 
the amount he did out of the state, while owing 
large sums to numerous creditors, and the manner 
in which he did it." 

My household property had all been attached, 
except what the law would reserve, in the opinion 
of the officer, on the day of my failure, by an ex- 
tensive creditor, viz. Deacon Woodward ; and by 
him receipted and left in ray possession to accom- 
modate in the continuance of my school. On clos- 
ing my school, I delivered over the furniture to the 
attaching creditor to be disposed of; and on exami- 
nation of what furniture remained, which had not 
been attached, I voluntarily delivered over to him 



165 

a considerable quantity more, which both the Dea- 
con and myself judged the law would not reserve, 
and some that it would. Although the quantity of 
property delivered would come far short of raising 
the amount sufficient to satisfy his claims against 
me, and which he really then needed, yet he did 
not express the least desire that I should leave an- 
other article. Indeed, I then derived the impres- 
sion, that he felt that I had proceeded further in 
relinquishing property than the law would have re- 
quired, had I even delivered up all rny property 
to my creditors, which, however, was not then con- 
templated. The little remnant must surely com- 
prehend all the property to which any allusion 
could be had in the charge, and all of which any sug- 
gestion could have been made to me, as being crimi- 
nal ; indeed, all that I claimed myself. Previous 
to my removal, I had several times been notified, 
that a merchant in Sharon had made the declara- 
tion, that he would attach my furniture after it 
should be on the road. An idea has been preva- 
lent in Connecticut, that such household furniture 
as the law would secure to a family when in the 
house, would be exposed to seizure and disposal 
by a creditor if found on the road ; and often has 
furniture been thus seized on removals. The idea, 
however, was incorrect. Although a creditor could 
under these circumstances attach and dispose of 
goods, yet he was liable to a suit, and the amount 
of goods thus taken could be recovered by the 
debtor. In this case, there would be incurred the 
expenses of the suits, which possibly might equal 
the value of the goods ; a sacrifice would also be 
made in the sales of the goods, as others equally 
valuable could not be purchased for the same 
amount for which the former were vended; and 
furthermore, ihe inconvenience resulting to a family 
from the deprivation of necessary furniture, for 
some length of time. This procedure could in no 
manner benefit the creditor, but ultimately be great- 
la* 



166 

ly to his injury, as also to that of the debtor. 
Aware of these considerations, and also that the 
merchant would have cheerfully availed himself of 
an opportunity to attach the furniture before the re- 
moval, had there been the least probability the law 
did not protect it ; and from the declarations I was 
informed he had made, (although he has since as- 
sured me he had not made them,) that my furniture 
would be seized upon the road, I consulted with 
several, what measures would be the most advisea- 
ble to secure my rights, both moral and legal. 
There was a very general agreement in sentiment, 
that it was my duty to secure and protect my rights. 
This was the opinion of a clergyman and of lay- 
men. Unsolicited by myself, and without my pre- 
vious knowledge, some friends came and transport- 
ed a part of my furniture over the line to the house 
of Mr. A. Pullman, in Amenia, a place which they 
had provided without my previous information, and 
which they signified they had done, from benevo- 
lent motives, to aid in securing my rights. 

The following certificate of Mr. Pullman will pro- 
bably throw sufficient light on this subject, and also 
develope the instruments whence the manner has 
been called in question. 

"I, Alexander Pullman, certify, that in the 
month of August, 1818, Capt. Silas St. John and 
Capt. Thomas St. John, if I mistake not their 
names, called on me to go before a magistrate and 
qualify, that the Rev. D. Parker, late of Sharon, 
had in a reprehensible or imqnitous manner agreed 
with me to take charge of a quantity of household 
furniture, which he wished to carry with him on his 
removal from Sharon; and also that there was an 
extravagant quantity of the said furniture. At the 
first call, to obtain an affidavit from me, I was absent 
from home. At the second call, when I informed 
the above named persons that I could not comply 
with their request, on account of bodily indisposi- 



16? 

Hon, they assured me, if I would not go before a 
magistrate without, they would compel my attend- 
ance, for the purpose of procuring my affidavit. 
They both appeared exceedingly anxious to pro- 
cure evidence to criminate Mr. Parker. I accord- 
ingly went before Judge Wheeler, of Amenia, and 
made affidavit. It appeared to me their expecta- 
tions, on my stating my knowledge of the transac- 
tion, were not equalled ; and they expressed them- 
selves to this effect : ' that they did not know that 
my affidavit could avail any thing.' When I made 
mention, that Mr. Parker had never made any 
contract with me to take charge of his furniture, ei- 
ther in person, or by any other as being his request; 
or that the quantity of goods was any other than 
moderate for his family, it seems their minds were 
not satisfied, I was fully impressed with the idea, 
that they wished to be able to criminate Mr. Par- 
ker, so as to prevent his obtaining the benefit of the 
act, in a trial then pending for that purpose, as I 
was informed. 

" The following summer, Cyrus Swan called on 
me to know whether 3Ir. Perry had requested me 
to go to Cornwall, on the second Tuesday of Au- 
gust, to testify respecting Mr. Parker' s furniture, 
before the ministers. I told him he had not. Mr. 
Swan observed, it would he necessary for me to go. 
I replied, I should not go without pay. Mr. Swan 
said, it was not expected I should go without, but 
be compensated for my trouble. He also assured 
me he would give me notice relative to my attend- 
ance. I derived the idea from fflt. Swan, that he 
felt desirous personally that I should attend. I 
however did not attend, as I well knew my testimo- 
ny could not criminate Mr. Parker, and of course 
the object for which it appeared I was requested to 
attend could not avail them. 

« ALEXANDER PULLMAN. 

* Hudson, October 17th, 1818." 



168 

After stating the circumstances relative to my 
goods to Mr. Beach, I informed him that the quan- 
tity which I had brought was insufficient to keep 
house with, and on my arrival at Greenville I had 
been obliged to procure a number of articles, to 
render my family in any degree comfortable. I 
added, that the circumstance of my borrowing eight 
hundred dollars in Greenville, on my engaging in 
the school, to carry to Connecticut and disburse 
there, when, if I had possessed a surplusage of fur- 
niture, I might have disposed of it, and reduced the 
amount of the loan, powerfully militated against the 
consistency of his charge. Besides, the principle 
which he urged, if just in its nature, ought to ope- 
rate reciprocally. Hence it would be just, upon 
the principle which he advocated, that I should 
have retained household furniture, over what was 
actually necessary for my family, to the amount of 
more than eight hundred dollars, as there had been 
creditors in the state of New-York who received no 
share of the above sum. But this, it is presumed^ 
would not have been granted, although, on Mr. 
Beach's principle, it must be acknowledged to be 
Just. On no principle could I discover that the 
charge could derive the least support, but directly 
the reverse. 

Furthermore, I remarked, that I did not design 
to bring with me more furniture, than the laws of 
that state would have allowed, had I given up my 
property previous to my removal ; nor had J, in- 
deed, brought as much ; yet I had not then given 
up nay property ; of course 1 had an undoubted 
right, had it been practicable, and necessary for 
my use, to have transported even my fast property, 
to any distance, and made use of it until I should 
relinquish my property to my creditors. But, I 
added, on the 23d of May, 1317, I obtained the. 
benefit of the act in this state, when I gave up all 
ray property, not reserving a single article of 
household furniture, necessary beds and bedding 



169 

excepted. Thus the dividend of property would 
extend further if any dividend could be made, and 
would go to creditors in Connecticut, in proportion 
to their claims, equally with the creditors in this 
state, and contribute more extensively in an equita- 
ble distribution to all, than could have taken place* 
had I given up my property in Connecticut. 
Jlcnce, the very principle introduced to criminate 
me, was clearly opposed to the interests of those 
whom he claimed to be injured. Such is the na- 
ture and inconsistency of man. In view of facts 
thus visible, Mr. Beach still presents the charge. 

Having replied to the articles of charge, it 
may be suitable to notice some proceedings adopt- 
ed and pursued by the prosecution, which had 
oome to my knowledge, previous to the trial. 

It will be recollecled that Messrs. Giilet and 
Hallock had beea appointed by the association m 
June, to prepare the domestic part of the prosecu? 
fion, while Messrs. Beach and Cowles were dis- 
charging the duties assigned to them in the foreign 
department. In the latter part of July, I was in- 
formed by two gentlemen from Sharon, whose ve- 
racity I had never, at any time, heard called in 
question, that Messrs. Giilet and Hallock, in the 
discharge of the duties of their appointment, had 
some time before commenced their inquiries in 
Cornwall, and proceeded, as I then understood, to 
call generally from house to house, through the pa- 
rish of Ellsworth, occasionally meandering from 
the direct road, and then progressed even into the 
town of Sharon, making the inquiry at every place 
at which they called, as I received impressions, 
whether some one could not say something against 
Mr. Parker? When it was replied in the negative, 
the request was made that they would reflect, 
whether there was not something they could say 
which would militate against him in some form. 
These informants observed, they were called upon 
and closely questioned. 



i?0 

To one of these, the Rev. gentlemen related the 
distressing statement of Daniel St. John, and how 
their feelings were excited by his plaintive descrip- 
tion of the poverty and distress which I had 
brought upon him. To heighten the scene, the 
dejection, anguish and tears of his family, were de- 
picted, which accompanied his lamentable narra- 
tive. Doubtless, no performance could have been 
conducted with better skill, to secure the tender sen* 
sibilities of those, who were in the laudable pur* 
suit of seeking for evidence to secure their claims 
to censure. But, had the veil been raised during 
this exhibition, and the scenery disclosed, would 
there not have been an obvious reason for these 
sighs and tears? and a probably different effect 
produced on a disinterested audience ? May we 
not justly suppose, while the speaker was deeply 
engaged in his distressing narrative, carefully sup- 
pressing the dormant flashings of conscience, that 
an occasional twinge would call to his faint recol- 
lection his recent success relative to the Knapp 
school bills, of which some mention has been made; 
his mortgage of his farm to me, which I had some 
years, for my security for monies advanced and 
sureties rendered ; the trifling balance due me on 
book, of more than $1000, by his acknowledged 
reckoning, during the last nine months before the 
failure ; his honourable exertions to obtain other 
demands of mine, for his own convenience, soon 
after my removal ; and all backed with the full re- 
collection that he was the first to fail, and thus 
rendered my own jailure inevitable ? With the 
knowledge of some, at least, of these facts, what 
family could refrain from weeping, during such a 
tragic relation ? 

But, possibly our thoughts will roam from this 
extraordinary exhibition, upon the manner in 
which these venerable and Rev. gentlemen thug 
faithfully discharged the high duties of their trust. 
The inquiry might, possibly, be made by some, 



tit 

what was the object of this mission? Did they ap- 
pear to be the heralds of peace, or of war? If of 
war, it would seem it was intended to take me by 
surprise, from their manner, and weapons of at- 
tack, as I had not, at that time, any knowledge that 
war had been renewed, and therefore had received 
no notice for defence. But it was, furthermore, 
well known that I could have no opportunity of de- 
fence, even had these extraordinary measures and 
efforts been within my knowledge. We shall know 
more of such unprecedented proceedings hereaf- 
ter ; and I am sure they are registered for the final 
judgment, before a holy and righteous tribunal, 
where no disguises can screen the guilty. Must 
we believe that " blindness in part has happened, 
and second childhood has had a rapid growth ?" If 
h ese things are facts, and possibly my senses have 
deceived me, I must be induced to believe that 
these Rev. gentlemen were, in reality, unsuitable 
to sit as judges in my trial. I, however, cheer- 
fully submit the subject to others for decision, lest 
my own impressions might be improperly biassed, 
and therefore incorrect. 

Soon after the above intelligence, I received a 
letter from my brother-in-law in Watertown, Litch- 
field county, stating that a communication had been 
sent him, from Philo Swift, to attend at Cornwall, 
on the 2d Tuesday of August, and desiring me to 
inform him what it meant. The following was the 
communication he received : 

" Cornwall, July 16th, 1817. 
^ Sir — The Rev. Peter Starr, moderator of the 
north association of Litchfield county, has request- 
ed me to inform you, that there is a complaint 
against the Rev. Daniel Parker, which will be 
brought before the association at the south meeting 
house in Cornwall, on the 2d Tuesday in August. 
Mr. Park§r wishes you to attend, at 10 o'clock in 



the forenoon, to state what you know respecting 
the charges that shall be brought against him. 

" PHILO SWIFT. 
" Mr. Elijah Merriam." 

Truly astonishing ! What, in reality, does this 
mean ? Did we ever before know a layman, who 
had no claims to magistracy, summoning witnesses 
to attend on ecclesiastical courts ? And why should 
the Rev. Mr. Starr, who lived in a different town, 
call on him to summon testimony, and not rather 
call en neighbouring ministers, if he had not time, 
or was incompetent to perform the task himself. 
But this was not tbe only instance of the kind, 
which he performed. Mr. Swift wrote to others 
in similar terms. Indeed, I have not known of one 
who was summoned by any other person. And 
with the exception of Mr. Merriam, I did not know 
that any others were summoned, until some months 
after their trial ; nor had I the least expectation of 
any witnesses on my part attending. 

It is wonderful, and yet it is plain, why Mr. 
Swift should be thus officious. It has been already 
proved, I trust, that he had been guilty of testify- 
ing untruly. It was for this,- I had wriiten to him 
to redress me, or he must not complain of legal 
measures- Was it his solicitude to escape infamy, 
which rendered him thus active? Yet, it must be 
acknowledged, his conduct was no more singular, 
than was the whole proceedings. It appears, so far 
as I have been able to derive any information, that 
the subject of complaint was introduced by disaf- 
fected clergymen, and laymen, each of whom was 
seemingly alarmed at his own guilt \ if not anxious 
for the safety of each other ; and was apprehensive 
that I should call them to an account, in faithfully 
discharging my duty. As a cover for their own 
claims, it is, I think, clearly apparent, that they 
rmibined together to seek my ruin, as their only 



ullernative from detection and infamy. Messrs. 
Starr, Perry, Stone, and Harvey, against all of 
whom, I had r.omrneDced a deal, for grossly un- 
christian conduct ; and three of whom had been 
liberated from trial, by reason of the extraordinary 
alteration of the constitution of the association, at 
a time at which they had been cited to attend and 
answer to the respective complaints then filed 
against them, were among the prime agents of the 
clergy in this, and the former prosecution. Dis- 
tinguished among the laymen, were Philo Swift, 
Daniel St. John, and Cyrus Swan, each of whom, 
no doubt trembled, in the view of his own crimes, 
and was in continued apprehension of detection 
and punishment. The latter were, in all probabili- 
ty, equally officious with the former. Their pro- 
ceedings appear to have been in unison, in conduct- 
ing the prosecution. Hence it seems Mr. Starr 
directs Mr. Swift, as a very suitable person to 
summon witnesses to attend before their ecclesias- 
tical court. Others are appointed, or volunteer 
their services, to call on Daniel St. John and Cy- 
rus Swan, who affect " to mourn and be in bitter- 
ness," by reason of the rueful complaints of the in- 
juries and privations I had brought upon them, 
which, in truth, were no more nor less, than total 
perversion of facts. 

In the mean time, the Rev. Timothy Stone was 
riding from town to town, and very busily em*- 
ployed in search of testimony, if it could possibly 
be found, to criminate me ; and even urged and 
demanded of one individual, (how many more I 
know not) to attend at the trial and testify against 
me, when it was declared to him, by the same in- 
dividual, at the time, that he knew of nothing which 
he could say against me, should he give his attend- 
ance. Not content with such declarations from one 
whom he would apparently suborn, he has been 
known to call again, and make the declaration, 
" when I was here the other day, you said thus and 

16 



174 

so, respecting Mr. Parker, you must now appear 
and testify against him." It was replied to him, 
"I did not say so, Mr. Stone " This appeared to 
produce irritation, on the part of Mr. Stone, and 
he again demanded his attendance, which he de- 
clared he would secure by a summons, if the at- 
tendance should not be voluntary. 

Often did Mr. Stone make the assertion, as if to 
prejudice the public mind, wherever the sound of 
his voice should reach, or, perhaps, his accents be 
reiterated, that such and such a person would testi- 
fy to this and that, and " now we shall be able to 
get Mr. Parker down." 

In another town, the Rev. and venerable Mr. 
Starr is heard to assert, " well, young Robins told 
me, that Mr. Stone informed him of such a par- 
ticular, respecting Mr. Parker ; now we shall be 
able to get him down." This was a private lec- 
ture delivered to one of the members of his church, 
whom he had called into another room, leaving the 
door opened, probably for the benefit of those 
without. 

In July preceding their trial, a clergyman in- 
fornrxl me he had attended a ministers' monthly 
meeting at Mr. Beecher's, the June before, at 
which, most of the ministers of Litchfield south as- 
sociation were present. In the midst of their 
meeting, Mr. Beecher, on a sudden, called their at- 
tention from the business on which they were en- 
gaged, and informed them, " Litchfield North 
had got Mr. Parker again before them," and 
seemingly exulted in the declaration, " that he 
thought they would now be able to manage him." 
My informant observed, that he was sorry to say, 
that Mr. Beecher added many remarks very unbe- 
coming and extraordinary, by his illiberal insinua- 
tions and slanders. At this, I confess I was not 
surprized, although the gospel directs, " if thy 
brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his 



175 

fault between thee and him alone ;" and it also 
enjoins, " speak not evil one of another, brethren." 

Even in the month of June, and on the first or 
second week after the complaint had been introdu- 
ced against me, the subject seemed to be known, 
and generally understood, by most, if not all the 
members of the general association of Connecticut, 
who had assembled at a place, sixty or seventy 
miles from that, in which the ccmplaint had been 
presented. Indeed, the first information I received 
on the subject, was from a worthy clergyman, who 
happened to be present at the general association, 
^rhere he derived the information, as I understood 
ltim, from Messrs. Beecher, Harvey, and others. 
He assured me there were severe and hard obsei> 
rations made. 

This would seem to be happily calculated to 
accomplish their favourite designs, by creating 
prejudices extensively, which the purest innocence 
could not wholly eradicate ; and by exerting such 
indignant impressions, as would be seemingly ne- 
cessary to ensure a general sanction of the extraor- 
dinary measures which had been devised, and were 
about to be pursued, in order to the accomplish* 
ment of the premeditated censure. 

Such were the active and zealous efforts of 
the prosecutors ; and such were the measures 
adopted and pursued. Slanders, the most foul, 
even in many other instances, to which I have not 
referred, I traced to their origin, and found them, 
by credible testimony, to have issued from the lips 
of those, who statedly entered the hallowed desk* 
It is painful to be driven to this necessity in this 
publication : yet truth and duty demand it. Tho 
cause of God loudly demands it. Hence we are 
furnished with a sufficient reason, why Mr. Swift 
should be designated and empowered to summon 
witnesses, while others are industriously employed 
in preparations, possibly more arduous, and diffi- 
cult, in the accomplishment. This is, in reality, 



ire 

but a feeble representation of facts, as the sequel 
will more clearly exhibit. 

In view of these circumstances, knowing that the 
inquiries or charges were not instituted by the ac- 
tive prosecutors, simply to investigate facts or 
truths, but, for the purpose of destroying ivilh the 
" besom of destruction," that the guilty might go 
unpunished a little longer, both in church and state., 
in their gross iniquities ; and it being rendered clear- 
ly apparent from the manner, time and place desig- 
nated for a trial, that unless it was so planned as to 
exclude me from an opportunity of defence, their 
charges could not sustain an investigation, well, 
knowing that truths and facts would cause them te 
vanish " like the morning cloud and the early dew," 
yet I did place some reliance on the pledges of Mr. 
Beach, (hat I should have an opportunity of de- 
fence, and not be slain without being permitted to 
visit the enemy's camp. I asked for no privilege 
but that of defence. I asked for no rights but 
what I could manfully maintain, were I indulged 
with the opportunity. Hence, I felt my request 
to be reasonable and proper, to be tried, and ac- 
quitted, or condemned, where there would be, at 
least, four disinterested judges. But, if this were 
denied me, I did still feel a confidence, that my 
second request, which was in accordance with Mr. 
Beach's own proposition, would secure me the 
privilege of being heard. But should even these 
fail, there was another pledge on which I could 
lean, as I flattered myslf, to wit : that, " if from 
conversation with Doct. Calhoon, and Mr. Lewis, 
there was not an entire satisfaction, still there 
should be no decision against me at Cornwall, al- 
though I should not attend there in person, or then 
make the request for an adjournment to a future 
time." 

From these various considerations, I preferred 
employing the Rev. Mr. Hotchkin as an agent, to 
negotiate an opportunity for my attendance in per- 



177 

son, to any other divine ; feeling an assurance, that 
his superior kriowle Ige of discipline, together with 
his well known spiitatibn, and presence, would awe 
them into a correct and regular procedure. 

But here I must be interrupted, to insert the fol- 
lowing communication, which was addressed, to the 
Rev. Beriah Hotchkin, to be delivered to me. 

& To the Rev. Peter Starr, Moderator of the North 
Association of Litchfield county, Con. 

" The undersigned, in obedience to the laws of 
Christ, adds to the statement of unchristian con- 
duct of his brother Parker, which is already m 
your hands for investigation by the association to 
be holden as mentioned in that statement, the fol- 
lowing article, respecting which he has dealt with 
the said Parker, according to the gospel. That 
the said Parker, contrary to the principles of in- 
tegrity, which are essential to the christian charac- 
ter, deeded to another person a tract of land, 
which he had previously deeded to John and Ben- 
jamin Tallmadge for security for a large sum of 
money, and thereby destroyed the aforesaid secu«* 
rity. "'JAMES BEACH. 

" Winchester, July 26th, 1817. 
" True copy of the original, ) 

" Test. Alexaneer Gillet. £ 

" To the Rev. Daniel Parker. — You are hereby 
summoned to appear before the North Association 
of Litchfield county, Con. at their extra, session, to 
be hoiden on the 2d Tuesday of August, 1317, at 
the south meeting house in Cornwall, 10 o'clock, 
A. M. then and there toanswer to the above state-* 
ment. 

" JAMES BEACH, 
"ALEXANDER GILLET, 
a In the name of the Association J\ 

16* 



178 

On the foregoing is endorsed by the Rev. Mr, 
Hothkin : 

" Received the within, August 7th, 1817, and 
dlivered it to the Rev. Daniel Parker the same 
day. Witness my hand. 

"BERIAH HOTCHKIN." 

The substance of the above complaint, is the 
same as that which Mr. Starr had made his sec- 
ond article of charge against me, when he first 
commenced his labours in May, 1815, but which 
he omitted to insert in his complaint, by' reason of 
Mr. Tallmadge's letter, which I have already in- 
serted, together with Mr. Tallmadge's personal dec- 
larations to him, that the charge had no foundation. 
For this procedure of Mr. Starr, having been previ- 
ously assured there was no cause of grievance, and 
his refusal to make restitution, by declaring that the 
allegation was unfounded, with all this evidence 
before him, I had commenced a labour, and served 
him with the copy of a complaint for trial, which 
was disposed of, in a novel way, of which mention 
has already been made. Yet, at the first trial, the 
subject was brought up, and investigated, and suf- 
ficient testimony exhibited from other sources, than 
the letter of Mr. Tailmadge, wholly to remove all 
ground of charge. Hence, there had, in reality, 
been a trial on this subject, and it was dismissed 
by the board as untenable, although Mr. Starr had 
been screened from trial by the alteration of the 
constitution at that time. 

Furthermore, the charge which had recent- 
ly come from Mr. Beach, could not legally be 
brought to trial on the 2d Tuesday of August, as 
the constitution of the association expressly speci- 
fies, that there shall be a service of complaint by 
copy, at least eight days before the trial. As the 
2d Tuesday would be the 12th, and by the certifi- 
cate of Mr. Hotchkin, this complaint was received 
on the 7th, there was but about half of the period 



179 

of time for notice, which their constitution requires. 
Hence, it would be in violation of their own consti- 
tution, to introduce the subject at their extra, ses- 
sion, setting aside all other considerations. 

It would seem proper, in order to a more clear 
perception of the real state of facts, and the na- 
ture and disposition of an important witness, soon 
to be improved against me, to observe, that my de- 
position relative to the " Lewis note," for which I 
was then accused of a heinous crime, was improved 
before the superior court, at their session in Litch- 
field, in February, 1817. At the reading of my 
deposition, I have been credibly informed, Mr- 
Swan was greatly agitated, and became suddenly 
tremulous and pale. Shortly after, he was heard 
to utter declarations of a threatening nature. An 
affidavit from one, out of the many who may have 
heard his threats, will be deemed sufficient to ex- 
hibit the nature of the man, and show on what a 
basis the Rev. prosecutors rested their prime 
charges in the accomplishment of their darling ob- 
ject. 

" I, Ansel Sterling, depose and say, that soon af- 
ter the rising of the superior court in Litchfield 
county, in February, 1817, I had some conversa- 
tion with Cyrus Swan, Esq. concerning a deposi- 
tion given by the Rev. Daniel Parker, in a cause 
pending before said court, in which deposition, said 
Parker stated, among other things, that a certain 
note given by John Calhoon, Wm. Lewis, Daniel 
St. John, and Ira Swift, for 912 dollars, and paya- 
ble at the Bridgeport bank, was drawn " for one 
year" or " twelve months from date " which I do 
not recollect; and it being an agreed fact that said 
note had remained in said Swan's hands ever since 
it had been given; and on inspection said note 
was not made payable on demand, nor " twelve 
months from date," no time being stated in said 
note when payable, said Swan appeared very much 



180 

agitated and enraged at Mr. Parker for giving 
such a deposition ; and then observed something to 
this effect, that he, Mr. Parker, would be sorry 
for it, and that he should or would be revenged 
upon him for it, or woitld bring said Parker to 
an account for giving said deposition ; ?he particu- 
lar words I do not precisely recollect, but thej 
were to the purport above stated. 

"ANSEL STERLING. 

August 25th, 1817." 

" Sworn before me, 

" Saml. R. Gager, Justice of Peace " 

Messrs. Perry and Swan had both used vigorous 
exertions to impress upon the minds of the people, 
previous to the complaint being presented before 
the association, that my affidavit relative to the 
above note was false ; and indeed some individuals 
had their minds so fully impressed, from their re- 
presentations, that the assertion was well grounded, 
that afterwards, when the information reached 
them, that the association had passed a censure 
upon me, one observed, if what he had heard was 
true, I ought to have received afar severer punish- 
ment. These are a few of the laudable efforts of 
the above named Messrs. Perry and Swan ; the 
former of whom was soon to sit as a Rev. judge in 
an ecclesiastical court, to decide on the fate of a fel- 
low-being, professedly according to the benign rules 
of the gospel ; the other, for some years a civil 
magistrate, and recently appointed an associate jus- 
tice in the court of common pleas for Litchfield 
county. One could not but reflect, 

« 'Tis from high life, high characters are drawn ; 
" A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn." 

The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin proceeded, in compli- 
ance with my request, with the documents already 
inserted, and duly arrived at Cornwall on the se- 
cond Tuesday of August, where he was received 



181 

and acknowledged by the association, as agent for. 
myself. The members who composed the body at 
this extra session of the association, were the 
" Rev. Messrs. Saml. J. Mills, Peter Starr, Alex* 
ander Gillet, Jeremiah Hallock, David L. Perry, 
Timothy Stone, Pitkin Cowles, Charles Prentice, 
James Beach, Joseph Harvey, Asa Blair, and 
Ralph Emerson." Although the day was severe- 
ly stormy, a large assembly had convened at the 
meeting house. 

My first communication was presented by Mr, 
Hotchkin, which was folded in the form of a let- 
ter, and directed to the Rev. moderator, to be 
communicated. An objection was immediately of- 
fered against receiving it by Mr. Perry and others. 
It was urged that tbey had met on special business^ 
and could not he interrupted. To this it was re- 
plied, that it contained a request from me, in which 
I was desirous to be heard. An objection was 
further pressed, that it would be improper to re- 
ceive any communications from me in my absence. 

The suggestions of the Rev. moderator were 
very ingeniously submitted, for consideration, on 
this occasion. Mr. Harvey had notyei arrived. 
Whether fears were entertained, that a letter, cov- 
ering three sides of a sheet, and closely written, 
might contain complaints revived against any of the 
members of their body, which had occasioned the 
objections already offered against receiving the 
communication, is best known to themselves. A 
debate arose, whether the seal should be broken^ 
and the communication be made public. After 
some time spent in the discussion, a vote was called 
for and taken. On counting the votes, it was pro- 
nounced a tie. The vote being contested, they 
again counted, and found a majority of one for 
breaking the seal, and reading the communication. 
The reading devolved upon the scribe pro tern. 
Mr. Stone, as Mr. Harvey, the appointed scribe of 
the former meeting, was still absent. Mr. Stone- 



182 

had not proceeded far, before Mr. Perry objected 
to his reading. He Avas finally directed to proceed. 
Mr. Harvey soon arrived, and objected to any com- 
munication being read, which came from me, ob- 
serving that it would be improper. On informing 
him of what had transpired on the subject, and 
that a vote had been taken to read the communica- 
tion, they proceeded to hear it through. The pro- 
position which it contained, of submitting the in- 
quiries to a joint committee for investigation and 
decision, met, at once, with strenuous objections. 
One very powerful and conclusive objection urged, 
was, that the power was in their own bands, and 
there was an unwillingness to delegate it to others. 
No doubt this was a cordial objection with some, 
who had formerly declared with emphasis, that 
they would vote at my trial ; and it has already 
been proved, that one had the folly to declare, 
" that he had got a number of his brethren to join 
him." Hence, to relinquish their darling gratifica- 
tion in voting against me, by delegating their pow- 
ers, which they claimed, to others, would be " like 
the scratch of a thorn upon the delicate eye-ball." 
Thus my proposal was, by their own minutes, de- 
clared to have been unanimously rejected. 

Mr. Hotchkin then presented my second com- 
munication, which was a request for them to ad- 
journ to a future time, and come over the line, in 
conformity with the proposition and assurance of 
Mr. Beach. The communication was read, but 
met with powerful opposition. Messrs. Perry, 
Stone, and Harvey vigorously opposed this re- 
quest. It was objected, if they must go over the 
state line to give a delinquent an opportunity of 
trial, they must, perhaps, by and by go over the 
Mississippi, or into Canada, to give a hearing. It 
•was furthermore urged, that they could not as a 
body act over the line; that whatever they should 
do in that case, would not be legal or binding, as 
it would be out of their limits. The Rev. Mr. 



T33 

Gillet observed, " if they knew precisely 'where 
the line was, he did not know but they might get 
straddle of the line, so as to give a legal hearing." 
This shrewd remark afforded much diversion to 
the Rev* association. A vote was called for on 
this proposition, which primarily came from Mr. 
Beach, and, as their minutes testify, it was 
"unanimously rejected." Reader, Mr. Beach, 
you will bear in mind, was a present member of 
their board ! Where is the pledge that was made 
me on this subject ? Where are, at least, the stre- 
nuous exertions for its accomplishment ? We have 
never heard that a syllable was urged respecting 
it. 

Bin charity would seem to induce the belief., 
that they had probably conferred with Messrs. 
Calhoou ano Lewis, as was expected, and having 
gained satisfactory evidence from them, there 
would be no need of proceeding to trial at all, and 
therefore it would be useless to regard my last pro- 
position* Would it were so. Dr. Calhoon attend- 
ed the first day, and was employed by them as a 
magistrate to qualify their witnesses. About a 
month afterwards he informed me, that he had 
never been questioned by any of the members of 
the association on the subject referred to, either he- 
fore, at, or after their trial, nor had he ever known 
of an inquiry made of Mr Lewis respecting it. Mr. 
Hotchkin then requested them to adjourn to a future 
time, and meet in Cornwall. This request was re- 
jected. All my requests being rejected, Mr. 
Hotchkin then observed, his powers extended no 
further, as my communications had clearly exhibit- 
ed ; that his delegation was solely to negotiate an 
opportunity for my attendance in person to defend 
my rights, which all must acknowledge to be suita- 
ble and just. He should, therefore, in my name, 
enter a protest against their proceeding to trial in 
my absence, when I earnestly desired, and Lad 
adopted every method in my power to secure the 



184 

privilege of attendance. He informed them if 
they proceeded to trial, their trial would be wholly 
ex parte, as I could have no concern with it ; that an 
alleged criminal had a right to demand the privilege 
of defence in all courts. Judge Swan informed the 
board, that he never knew a civil court adjourn to 
another place, to give the defendant an opportunity 
of attendance. Astonishing ! for a new judge to 
attempt to influence an ecclesiastical board contra- 
ry to every principle, civil and sacred ! Whether 
this was ignorance or design, was best known to 
his honour. Yet I would ask his honour if he ever 
knew of a criminal arraigned before a civil c<*urt, 
who was not assisted and protected in his attend- 
ance ? and if he ever knew a solitary instance of a 
criminal being convicted, when excluded from at- 
tendance and defence, in any court, until upon the 
consecrated heathen ground in Cornwall, where 
they were then assembled, and probably swayed by 
his honour's influence or opinion ? Indeed, I would 
ask his honour, whether he believes a body of pro- 
fessed christian ministers could have been influen- 
ced to unite in his opinion, in any other section 
of the globe, not consecrated to the heathen ? 

It was finally agreed that they were authorised to 
proceed. The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then observ- 
ed, he had heard me say, if my requests should be 
rejected, and myself debarred the privilege of de- 
fence, and they still proceed to trial, I should con- 
sider it my duty to publish to the world a state- 
ment of their proceedings, in my own .vindication. 
This suggestion produced considerable warmth and 
disdain from the active partisans, who contemp- 
tuously put it at defiance, and with hauteur it was 
proclaimed, the trial should proceed. 

The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then observed he had 
heard me say, should I ever be tried by that body, 
I should object to some of the members sitting in 
the trial, as they had abundantly disqualified them- 
selves, in various respects, to act as judges. The 



185 

persons whom I had designated more especially, 
were Messrs Perry, Stone, and Harvey. Nor did 
I consider that Messrs. Starr, Prentice and Blair 
were by any means proper persons to act in the 
trial. At this suggestion, Messrs. Perry and Stone 
immediately signified to Mr. Hotchkin, that they 
had understood that his powers extended no fur- 
ther ; he would therefore maintain silence, unless 
he proceeded in the trial as counsel for me, which 
they well knew my communications expressly pro- 
hibited. They individually observed, they ex- 
pected they were alluded to by me, but they would 
act in the trial. This aged divine being thus for- 
bidden to interrupt their proceedings, was compel- 
led to be silent. 

Having voted that they would proceed to trial, 
a list of witnesses was called for, and the names of 
a number were read by the scribe. It was imme- 
diately objected, " those are Mr. Parker's witness- 
es,' ' (of which, however, I was perfectly ignorant, 
as I had not the least expectation of a trial, and 
had not summoned an individual for the purpose,) 
" we have nothing to do with them ; we only wish 
to find witnesses against him; those, therefore, 
who are considered as his witnesses, we shall have 
no occasion to call upon." 

They wished the other list of names to be read, 
which was accordingly done. 

Finding they were determined to proceed, Mr. 
Hotchkin discovered, lying on the table of the 
scribe, who was now Mr. Harvey, as is usual at 
their meetings, a quantity of paper, quills, &c. He 
therefore requested of the scribe, the privilege of 
some paper, a pen, and the use of some ink, as I 
had requested him to take minutes of their pro- 
ceedings, if my requests were rejected. Mr. Har- 
vey signified to him that his request could not be 
accommodated. Mr. Hotchkin then discovered 
several of the ministers making use of pocket ink- 
stands, and requested of them the loan of one, thaf 

1? 



1S6 

he might be enabled to take minutes. His request 
was not complied with. Mr. Hotchkin then ob- 
served, if any person would procure him paper, 
pen and ink, as he was a stranger there, he would 
reward him to his satisfaction. Although the meet- 
ing house was considerably filled with spectators, 
yet the only returns he could obtain to his request, 
" were jeers and laugh" 

Thus, the Rev. Mr. Hotchkin was deprived of 
the opportunity of taking minutes, during the first 
day. At evening, he procured the necessary ap- 
paratus, and proceeded to note down what he could 
recollect, during so confused and unexampled a 
procedure. 

Having disposed of my witnesses, as if by an 
ex post facto law, or, perhaps, more properly, on 
the Godwinean system, " that the end sanctifies 
the means " they proceeded to call on Cyrus 
Swan to testify. 

He presented a note which he claimed was the 
" Lewis note," perfectly corresponding in its draft, 
by information, with the copy enclosed to me, in 
Doct. Calhoon's letter, which I have already in- 
serted. After testifying, under the solemnity of 
an oath, that my affidavit was incorrect, relative to 
the period of time, for which the " Lewis note" 
was given, he also testified, that all the notes given 
on the said 25th of November, 1814, to the Bridge- 
port bank, were given on demand. This testimo- 
ny would be untrue, in relation to the other notes, 
according to the affidavit of Ansel Sterling, Esq. ; 
for his affidavit expressly states, that the " Lewis 
note" was neither twelve months from date, nor 
on demand," as no time was stated in the note. 

During the time of Mr. Swan's testifying, as was 
the case generally, when any suggestion was given 
which appeared unfavourable to me, Messrs. Per- 
ry, Stone, Blair, and some others, distorted their 
faces, laughed, jeered, would often catch a pen or 
pencil, and occasionally note down a few words> 



U7 

apparently with a design to signify to the specta- 
tors their astonishment and abhorrence; but which 
conduct, in the view of some, indicated different 
emotions. 

As the day was now nearly exhausted, and the 
combination appeared desirous that some other 
witnesses might be obtained on the following day, 
Mr. Swan was requested to tarry. He replied, 
" that although his business was pressing at home, 
yet he would cheerfully tarry until the next day to 
accommodate them." 

The inquiry was here made, in respect to procu- 
ring other witnesses, whether any subjects would 
be investigated, which had been brought before 
Ihem at the trial in July, 1815. It was replied, 
that it would not be proper. This appeared to 
interfere with the wishes of some, and it was urged 
that it would exclude several witnesses, whom the 
prosecutors were desirous to have improved. It 
was finally consented, that any witnesses might be 
brought forward, whom they should choose, to tes* 
tify on whatever subject it might seem necessary 
to introduce, even whether it had before been a 
subject of inquiry or not ; or, whether I had been 
notified previously, or not, respecting it. Thus 
full latitude was given to the request, and exten- 
sively pursued. 

On the following day, Daniel St. John and oth- 
ers, were, by reason of expresses sent, brought be- 
fore the Rev. tribunal. Mr. St. John was qualifi- 
ed and testified. It is evident his testimony was 
in accordance with his wishes, rather than with 
facts, as will be clearly proved hereafter. After 
stating that he had been induced to become en- 
dorser for me, in consequence of a written state- 
ment, which I had given him, of what I owed, to- 
gether with my property in my hands, and claims 
due me, from which erroneous statement, as he 
claimed he afterwards discovered, he had been de- 
ceived, and thereby greatly injured; yet he ac- 



188 

knowledged himself unable to produce the writing. 
As a confirmation how greatly he had been impo- 
sed upon, he proceeded to testify, that about the 
5th of September, 1814, he went by my request, 
to the Hartford Phoenix Bank, to obtain the dis- 
count of two notes, of one thousand dollars each, 
exclusively for my benefit. That I had, at that 
time, sent forward by him a statement of my pro- 
perty to the said Phoenix Bank, from which state- 
ment, as he presumed I would not give any other than 
a correct one, he was {influenced to endorse both of 
the said notes, and without which, they would not 
be accepted, but in consideration of his endorse- 
ments, both would be discounted ; that he endors- 
ed both of the said notes, and thereby obtained the 
loans, which were entirely for my benefit, and in 
which, he testified, he had no interest whatever. 

He also testified, that he believed the " Lewis 
note" to be in my hand writing, which would be 
dbtinguishingly characteristic of himself, who had, 
evidently, for some time time, " been going about 
as a roaring lion, seeking to devour." 

Mr. Philo Swift, possibly as a remuneration for 
his services, was indulged with the privilege of 
presenting the letter which I had written him in 
September, 1816, relative to his incorrect testimony 
at two different times, and indulged with the oppor- 
tunity of making his comments thereon, in vindica- 
tion of himself, and consequently, no doubt, at the 
expense of my criminality. Could this, in reality, 
have removed the guilt, which, I trust, has already 
been sufficiently proved, I would most sincerely 
rejoice at the mdulgence given him, although, it is 
presumed, the Rev. body did not claim the pre- 
rogative of absolving sins. It is, however, singular, 
as this subject had never been exhibited against 
me as an article of charge, that they should have 
suffered it to be acted upon at that time, when they 
had declared " they had met on ^special business, 
and could not be interrupted" The effect, how- 



189 

ever, may have proved salutary, for, if I do net 
mistake, he received his first appointment to at- 
tend the legislature of the state, the next election. 

Even the attendance of John Tallmadge, Esq. 
was procured on the second day of trial, notwith- 
standing the letter he had voluntarily written me 
in June, 1815, as if, by his own personal conviction 
of the facts which it states, it was his duty to com- 
municate to me, at the time he penned it, to shield 
me from unjust censure, when thus arraigned by 
his own minister ; yet from the insinuations of 
certain individuals, who were cheerfully admitted 
to testify on this occasion, it would seem he was 
desirous to counteract the influence of his volun- 
tarily written communication, and consent to the 
common cry of " crucify him." 

Indeed, many and various were the subjects in- 
troduced at this time before the Rev. association^ 
of which I had not had the least previous intima- 
tion, and which were obviously designed to secure, 
in any form , some ground for censure. 

Among others was that of my making use of min- 
isterial credentials, of my regular standing in the 
ministry, which they claimed had been recalled, 
and for the alleged use of which, a censure was 
passed. The first information I received on this 
subject, was from a copy of their doings at that 
time, transmitted to me by their register. 

Many individuals, who were known to be per- 
sonally hostile, or wholly in subserviency to the 
views of those who were seeking my injury, were 
cheerfully admitted to testify on subjects of which 
I had no previous knowledge, either by complaint 
or fact; as if every exertion was in exercise, seem- 
ingly, before a court of inqiiisition* under the con- 
troul of St. Dominic. 

I deem it to be my duty, to state further, (he 
extraordinary testimony ^>f even one of their do- 
mestic committee. This venerable man stated, 
i{ that such a man said, that such a man stated'* 

If* 



190 

thus and so. Had the subject matter been well 
grounded, it is singular that the Rev. Mr. Stone 
had not discovered it in his itinerations, to pro- 
cure testimony against me, when this evidence was 
pronounced to be within the limits of his own pa- 
rish, — although his peregrinations were far more ex- 
tensive, — and there appeared so evident a desire to 
obtain positive testimony against me. 

The sources of ex parte testimony having been 
seemingly exhausted, the association claimed to be 
by themselves. A proposition was speedily offer- 
ed, that a vote of censure should be passed. It 
does not appear that there was any particular arti- 
cle of charge on which to ground the censure ; yet 
the motto " Carthago delenda est" must receive 
its fulfilment. Yes, reader, " Proscription Delinea- 
ted," must now be exhibited in more glowing tints 
than have before been presented our view. It is 
enough to astound the senses, and appal the heart ! 
I am authorized to state the fact from one of the 
number who was then compelled to act in the vote 
of censure. 

The designing members of the association were 
all present at this trial, and acted in unison du- 
ring the whole procedure. Other members also 
attended, who were ignorant of the real objects 
which had been designed, and which were now to 
be accomplished; while some of the members of 
the body prudently withheld their attendance. 
Waving all previous questions, which would have 
been in conformity with the remnant of their writ- 
ten constitution, there appeared to be a deep solici- 
tude with the virulent and active prosecutors, to 
ccme directly to the severing blow. Without at- 
taching the censure, therefore, to any particular 
charge, for this might lead to a detection, it ap- 
peared to be the most eligible to make it a sweep- 
ing clause, " to suspend, from henceforth, my au- 
thority to exercise the functions of a minister of 
the gospel derived through them.' 5 It was desired 



191 

that all might unite in this vote of censure, that 
it might appear there was an entire harmony in 
their proceeding. The question was therefore 
put, individually, to the members, " Will you unite 
in this vote of censure ?" It had passed, perhaps, 
four or five, in the affirmative, when a member ob- 
served, he could not unite with them in the vote* 
He remarked, that he was convinced, from docu- 
ments which I had already presented him, that the 
subject would have an entirely different complex* 
ion, could I have been permitted the opportunity 
of defence. He must, therefore, dissent from them 
in opinion. He was then accused, by one of the 
active prosecutors, of an attempt to influence or 
counteract the vote of the association. He repli- 
ed, that this did not necessarily follow. He must 
act conscientiously in this case ; and having al- 
ready seen documents which induced him to be- 
lieve that the charges could not have been sup- 
ported by facts, he was not, therefore, bound to re- 
ceive the testimony which had been introduced to 
support their charges. He was then accused of 
charging the witnesses with perjury. This he 
repelled, by observing, that they were not bound 
to receive the testimony of witnesses in a trial, and 
especially in an ex parte trial, where the whole sub- 
ject could not be fully disclosed. The dissenting 
member finally requested to be past in silence 
and not give any vote, as he was severely pressed 
by several of the active persecutors. They would 
not consent to this, but claimed that he should vote. 
He requested to be excused. It was still urged 
that he should vote. A lengthy debate ensued. 

This member had been accused of " being pluno-- 
ed into the cares of the world," and seemed to 
have been threatened, that unless he was careful, 
he would meet with a similar fate. It was judged 
that about three hours had elapsed, when finding 
that nothing but a vote of censure would seeming- 
ly satisfy the feelings of the prosecutors, and for 



192 

the purpose of leaving the subject still open for a 
future hearing, as it was evident a vote of censure 
would be obtained, he signified that he would unite 
with them on these conditions, that the testimony 
which had been exhibited should be considered as 
full evidence of the merits of the charges, and his 
vote should be given on that principle exclusively, 
and that they should furthermore give me an imme- 
diate opportunity to vindicate myself against their 
charges and censure, which he had no doubt I might 
be fully enabled to do. Some others, it was under- 
stood, compromised in a similar manner. Thus an 
unanimous vote of censure was obtained. 

Astonishing ! A christian tribunal ! What, ob- 
tain by threats, and promises which they refuse to 
fulfil, what they could not accomplish by intrigues 
and perjured testimony ! ! Yes, this fact has been 
declared to me to be truth. It has been transaiitted 
to me by indubitable testimony ! " Be sure your 
sins wilt find you out," must ring, like the knell of 
death, in the ears of such heaven-daring offenders ! 

The above particulars, relative to obtaining the 
vote of censure, were communicated, not long since, 
by the Rev. Pitkin Cowles, of Canaan, who was 
the member thus compelled to vote, to a venerable 
gentleman of unquestionable veracity, in the city of 
Hudson, with a request, or permission, that I might 
be informed of the extraordinary fact. I have 
since had an interview with Mr. Cowles, in which 
he confirmed the statement I had received, and 
which I have penned, verbatim, so far as my memory 
serves me. In my interview with him, he stated that 
he had written me a letter about fifteen months 
since, explaining his motives in giving his vote in 
the manner he did, viz. for the purpose of keeping 
the subject open for a hearing, which he apprehend- 
ed would be otherwise closed, but his letter I have 
never received. It was probably retained in Con- 
necticut, as has been the case with many other let- 
ters which were addressed to me ; and whether it 



183 

lias fallen into the hands of my active persecutor 
©r not, they may perhaps be better enabled to de- 
cide than myself. 

As a further confirmation of the correctness of the 
preceding statement of the trial, I shall subjoin some 
affidavits. 

Deacon Seymour, of Hillsdale, New-York, and 
Mr. Norton, of Sheffield, 3Iass. both of whom had 
been members of the church in Ellsworth, had been 
summoned by Mr. Philo Swift, as if by my request, 
to attend as witnesses at Cornwall on the second 
Tuesday of August; yet I had not the least know- 
ledge of the fact, until nearly the close of the fol- 
lowing December. They gave their attendance on 
the first day, when being informed, by the declara- 
tion of one or more members of the association, 
that they should have nothing to do with " Mr, 
Parker's witnesses" but only wished for those who 
would testify against me, they considered them- 
selves to be dismissed from their attendance. This 
circumstance, together with the disgusting and ap- 
paling spectacle, which was exhibited before them, 
caused them to withdraw at nearly the close of the 
first day, 

" I, Daniel P. Norton, of lawful age, depose and 
say, that I received a request, in conjunction with 
deacon Amos Seymour, by a letter from Philo 
Swift, of Cornwall, Connecticut, to appear on the 
second Taesday of August, 181T, at the south 
meeting-house in said Cornwall, before the north as- 
sociation of Litchfield county, which letter pur- 
ported that it was the request of the Rev. Daniel 
Parker, then of Greenville, Greene county, New- 
York, that we should attend ; and that the Rev. 
Peter Starr, moderator of the said association, had 
requested him the said Swift to summon us to at- 
tend. We accordingly attended at the time and 
place specified, where it appeared that a complaint 
had been filed before the said association, then to be 



194 

heard against Mr. Parker, as was exhibited by their 
documents, and read immediately on the opening of 
the association. It seemed that Mr. Parker could 
not appear before the association at that time, as 
they were unable to grant him a protection from ar- 
rest; and that he had employed the Rev. Beriah 
Hotchkin, of said Greenville, to appear in his be- 
half, for the purpose of negotiating an opportunity 
for his attendance in person at a future time of trial; 
and that he had forwarded by the Rev. Mr. Hotch- 
kin two communications in writing, for the purpose 
of accomplishing that object. The Rev. Mr. 
Hotchkin was accordingly received, and acknow- 
ledged by the association as agent for Mr. Parker. 
He then presented a written document from Mr. 
Parker to the Rev. Peter Starr, moderator of the 
association, to be communicated. On presenting 
it, there w r as an objection immediately made by 
some of the association against receiving it ; and it 
was urged as a reason that they had met on special 
business, and could not be interrupted. After a 
lengthy debate, a vote was taken, whether the com- 
munication should be received, and carried by a 
very small majority; I should say but owe. On 
reading the communication, it appeared that Mr. 
Parker had respectfully requested the association 
to appoint four members of that body, to unite with 
four members from Greene county, whom he named 
in his communication, viz. the Rev. Messrs. David 
Porter, D. D. Seth Williston, Henry R. Stimson, 
and Beriah Hotchkin, or James Jewel ; or any 
other four whom they should be pleased to name ; 
and requested that they might meet as a joint com- 
mittee, if I rightly recollect, in the month of Sep- 
tember following, in Northeast, and investigate and 
decide on the subjects of inquiry. 

" Messrs. Perry and Stone, and, if I do not mis- 
take, Harvey, strenuously opposed the request of 
Mr. Parker, and observed, that the power was in 
their own hands, and they w 7 ere not willing to de- 
legate it to others. After a lengthy debate, and 



195 

strenuous opposition by the above named persstos^ 
the request of Mr. Parker was unanimously reject- 
ed, (with the exception, I believe, of Mr. Cowles.) 

The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then presented a second 
communication from Mr. Parker, viz. to ask the as- 
sociation, as a body, to adjourn to a future day, aad 
come into Northeast, about half a mile over the 
Connecticut line, that he might have the opportunity 
of attending in person to the investigation of the 
subjects of inquiry instituted against him. Mr. Per- 
ry, and, if I mistake not, Stone and Harvey, strenu- 
ously opposed this request. Mr. Perry stated, that 
it would be out of their jurisdiction ; and whatever 
they should do in that case would not be binding, 
as it would be out of their limits. Mr. Harvey, I 
think, stated as an objection, that if they must go 
over the line into the state of New-York, they must, 
perhaps, by and by, go over the Mississippi, or in- 
to Canada, to give a person an opportunity of at- 
tendance. After a laboured and strenuous opposi- 
tion, there was, if I rightly remember, an unanimous 
rejection of this request, (with the exception, as be« 
fore, if I rightly remember, of Mr. Cowles.) 

" The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin, then, in the name and 
bebalf of Mr. Parker, entered a protest against the 
association's proceeding to trial, as he, Mr. Parker, 
could not attend in person, which he earnestly de- 
sired ; and that the trial must necessarily be wholly 
ex parte, should they proceed. The associatioa 
then voted they would proceed to trial. The Rev. 
Mr. Hotchkin again observed, that he had heard 
Mr. Parker say, that he should object to some of 
the members of that body sitting, should he be tried 
by that body, whenever the subject was investiga- 
ted. Mr. Perry immediately replied, that he un- 
derstood by Mr. Hotchkin that his powers extend- 
ed no further ; that he should object to his further 
proceeding, unless he continued as counsel for Mr. 
Parker in the trial. Mr. Stone then observed, that 
he expected he was one who would be objected to 
by Mr. Parker, but he should object to Mr. Hotch- 



196 

kufbejecting any from his seat, unless he continu- 
ed in ! ]e trial as counsel for Mr. Parker. 

" The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then called on the 
scribe, Mr. Harvey, and requested of hirn the privi- 
lege of a little paper, a pen, and the use of some ink, 
as Mr. Parker had requested him to take minutes of 
their proceedings, if his communications were re- 
jected. Mr. Harvey replied, he could not spare 
any. Mr. Starr, the moderator, then observed, it 
appears that Mr. Parker has a i stenographer,' 
which produced a sneer or laugh from a considera- 
ble proportion of the venerable association. 

" The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then inquired, if any 
of the ministers had a pen and ink they would fa- 
vour him with. His request was not accommodat- 
ed. Mr. Hotchkin then requested, if any person 
who lived in the vicinity would furnish him with pa- 
per, pen, and ink, as he was a stranger there, he 
would reward them for the same ; to which he re* 
ceived no answer but jeers and laughs. 

" The association then proceeded to cal! on wit- 
nesses. Cyrus Swan, Esq. was called upon, quali- 
fied, and testified. Mr. Swan testified, that Mr. 
Parker had given a false deposition in relation to 
a note given to the Bridgeport bank, signed by Wil- 
liam Lewis, Ira Swift, and others, in respect to tne 
period of time for which the note was given. Swan 
declared, that the said note was given on demand ; 
and that all the notes given to the Bridgeport bank, 
at the time of William Lewis, Ira Swift, and others 
giving the said note, were given on demand. 

Question by D. Parker. Did not Cyrus Swan 
take a particular active part as attorney, advocate, 
witness, and accuser against me at this trial ? 

Answer. He did. I thought so then, and think 
so still. 

Question. Did not Swan appear to be earnest 
and bitter against me ? 

Answer. That was my full impression. I was 
fully convinced that he did alt in his power to cri- 
minate you. 



197 

Question. Did you not understand at that time 
from the association, that Swan had volunteered his 
services at the trial, and that although his business 
was pressing at home, he would cheerfully tarry 
until the next day to accommodate them ? 

Answer. I did. 

Question. Did not Messrs. Perry, Stone, and 
Harvey, as also several others, take a decidedly 
active part against me at the trial ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did not Messrs. Perry, Blair, and 
others, jeer, laugh, and sneer, whenever any testi- 
mony was exhibited which appeared to militate 
against me ? 

Answer, Yes. 

Question. Did not some other members also of 
the association laugh, ridicule, and jeer, and fre- 
quently exhibit marks of much gratification, when- 
ever any thing was testified, or suggested, which 
had the appearance of contributing to my injury? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. What was the general appearance, 
especially of a considerable proportion of the as- 
sociation ? Did they exhibit the appearance of un- 
prejudiced men ? 

Answer. Far from it, in my opinion, on such an 
occasion. They did not appear to act with that 
candour and prudence which became ministers of 
the gospel. 

Question. Were you not convinced from what 
you saw, that they were determined to convict me, 
guilty, or not guilty ? 

Answer. I was fully convinced that they were 
determined to convict you at any rate. 

Question. Did not the generality of the associa- 
tion seem wholly bent to produce testimony against 
me, and apparently unwilling to seek for any evi- 
dence which should go to exculpate me ? 

Answer. I thought they did. Thev seemed tb 
18 



198 

me to be accusers as well as judges, during our at- 
tendance. 

Question. Were you or deacon Seymour called 
upon as witnesses, by the association at the trial ? 

Answer. We were not. 

Question. Have you not heard Daniel St. John, 
Esq. say repeatedly, that had I tarried in Connec- 
ticut, and not moved from that state, I should have 
done well enough ; but because I had moved out of 
the state, I had wholly lost my character ? 

Answer. Yes, 1 have frequently. 

Question. Were you not knowing to the fact, 
that many of the witnesses called upon to testify 
against me at the trial, were and had been open and 
bitter enemies to me long before the trial ? 

Answer. Yes, I did ; three or four of them, par- 
ticularly Cyrus Sivan and Stephen Deming ; and 
it was well known that Esq. St. John was very bit- 
ter. 

DANIEL P. NORTON." 

" State of New- York, ss. Greene county, on 
the 23d day of December, 1 817, the above named 
Daniel P. Norton came before me, and made so- 
lemn oath, that what is above related is substantial- 
ly true. 

Abijar Reed, Justice Peace." 

" I, Amos Seymour, of lawful age, depose and 
aay, that I have examined the affidavit of Mr. Da- 
niel P. Norton, made on the 23d day of December, 
1817, and acknowieged before Abijah Reed, Esq. 
in relation to the proceedings of the North associa- 
tion of Litchfield county, on the 12th day of Au- 
gust last past, in Cornwall, respecting Mr. Parker's 
trial before that body, and cordially concur in the 
truth of the same, except the question relative to 
Esq. St. John's declaration, of which I have bad no 
personal knowledge, as I have not seen him since 
the trial in Cornwall. 



199 

Question by D. Parker. What were your im- 
pressions and feelings, when j on witnessed the 
transactions and proceedings of the association at 
Cornwall, on the 12th of August last ? 

Answer. My feelings were greatly wounded at 
the illiberal and prejudiced manner of their pro- 
ceedings. They were such as I could not have be- 
lieved, had I not been an eye witness ; and wounded 
my feelings to such a degree, that after tarrying 
until nearly evening of the "first day, I withdrew, 
being unwilling further to witness the scene. 

Question. Did you not, at that time, receive 
the impression, that they proceeded in a manner 
they would have been unwilling to be treated? 

Answer. I did. 

Quest ion. Did not the Rev. Mr. Hotchkin re- 
quest the association, at that time, after they had re- 
jected my written communications, and before they 
had called on any witnesses, to adjourn to a future 
time, to meet even in Cornwall, that I might have 
an opportunity 6f attending in person ? 

Answer. He did, but his request was rejected. 

Question. Did you not receive the impression 
from the association, that it was needless for the 
witnesses whom they had summoned to attend on 
my part to tarry, as they would not probably be call- 
ed upon by the association to testify before them?' 

Answer. I did. 

AMOS SEYMOUR." 

" State of New-York, ss. Columbia county, 01* 
the 14th day of Jan. 1818, the above named Amos 
Seymour came before me, and made solemn oath> 
that what is above stated is substantially true." 
James Platt, Justice Peace." 

The following information was communicated to 
me by Mr. Norton, at the time of receiving his affi- 
davit. At nearly the close of the first day of the 
iessioR of the association, deacon Seymour request- 



200 

ed him to retire. On going out of the house, the 
deacon observed to him that he could not tarry any 
longer. As it had been signified by some of the 
members of the association, that none were to be 
improved to testify, who were considered as my 
witnesses, it would be needless for thern to tarry ; 
and he chose to ride, as the scene waS" such as he 
was unwilling further to witness. Deacon Seymour 
added, that he had before had full confidence in 
the ministers of that bo'dy ; but the conduct of some 
of them had been such, that he could ne\er be wil- 
ling to hear them preach again. 

They immediately proceeded on their return ; 
but had not gone far before evening overtook them, 
and they put up for the night. The extraordinary 
transactions which they had witnessed caused the 
deacon continually to converse on the subject, ex- 
pressing his amazement, until late bed time, and 
even after they had retired for rest. The next 
morning he resumed the subject, and it was almost 
his constant theme, during the following day and 
evening; nor did it seem as if he could banish it 
from his mind one moment. 

On my interview with deacon Seymour, on the 
receipt of this information, he observed, that it was 
impossible for him to describe his feelings. He 
had long been acquainted with the members of that 
body, had often been a member with them in ec- 
clesiastical councils, and had expected the strictest 
propriety and candour in their proceedings. But 
in this he had been greatly disappointed. He in- 
formed me that for some weeks, his emotions were 
indescribable, and he was lead to doubt, whether 
there could be an honest man upon the earth. The 
words of the wise man appeared to be singularly 
emphatical, " that man in his best estate, was alto- 
gether vanity. 5 ' And divine truth seemed to be of 
forcible application, " that there is none righteous, 
mo not one. There is none that understandeth, 
there is none that seeketh after God. They are 



201 

all gone out of the way. They are together be^ 
come unprofitable ; there is none that cloeth good, 
no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre ; 
with their tongues they have used deceit ; the poi- 
son of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is 
full of cursing and bitterness ; their feet are swift 
to shed blood ; destruction and misery are in their 
ways ; and the way of peace have they not known ; 
there is no fear of God before their eyes." 

Having procured the foregoing affidavits, I soon 
after read them in the hearing of parson Hotchkin, 
and inquired of him whether they were correct. 
He replied, the deponents were favoured with ex- 
cellent memories. As Mr. Hotchkin had before 
declined saying any thing relative to the treatment 
he had received from the association, or giving any 
opinion, in any form, respecting their proceedings, 
I requested of him to inform me whether he should 
feel it to be his duty to confirm the statements ? 
He signified that they were true. 

In the month of January following, when a num- 
ber of clergymen were assembled in Greenville, 
and the foregoing affidavits were read, the Rev. 
Mr. Hotchkin was called upon to testify, whether 
these affidavits were correct? He replied, that he 
considered them to be correct. He added, that 
not having been accommodated with a pen and ink 
until the evening of the first clay of the trial, he 
then endeavoured to note down what he could re- 
collect ; many particulars of which, he found in 
his minutes, corresponding with the affidavits ; and 
others were recalled to his remembrance by be- 
ing repeated. 

By the Rev. Mr. Hotchkin, on his return from 
Cornwall, I received a letter from Dr. Calhoon, 
who had been employed as a magistrate, to qualify 
their witnesses, on the first day of the trial, but 
withheld his attendance on the second day, as the 
£cene was too disgusting to witness, 

18* 



202 

The following is an extract of his letter, dated, 

" Cornwall, Aug. ISth, 1817. 
" I attended yesterday on your ex parte trial, 
and am not disappointed in the mode pursued, nor 
shall I be at all disappointed in the result ; for I 
plainly foresee a determination to convict. Nor 
do I think, had you the eloquence of a Sherman, 
it could avail any thing. I am more and more 
convinced of the propriety of my former expres- 
sions, that ecclesiastical courts are, of all tribunals, 
the most exceptionable, and the most under the 
control of prejudice. But as you will have more 
full detail by Mr. H. I shall say no more, only, 
Mr. Swan testified nobly for himself; and at times 
assumed the attitude of attorney, advocate, wit- 
ness, and accuser ; all in accordance with his feel- 
ings, I presume," 



SECTION V. 

The following certified copy of the doings of 
the association was transmitted to me, from their 
register, by Mr. Hotchkin. 

" At an adjourned meeting of the north associa- 
tion of Litchfield county, holden at the south meet- 
ing house in Cornwall, on Tuesday the 12th day of 
August, 1317, — Present: Rev. Messrs. Samuel J. 
Mills, Peter Starr, Alexander Gillet, Jeremiah 
Hallock, David L. Perry, Timothy Stone, Pitkin 
Cowles, Charles Prentice, James Beach, Joseph 
Harvey, Asa Blair, Ralph Emerson. Mr. Starr, 
the moderator, opened the meeting with prayer. 
The association proceeded to call up the business, 
when it appeared there was a complaint before them 



203 

from the Rev. Mr. Beach, against the Rer. Daniel 
Parker, a member of the association, now residing 
in the state of New- York, — which complaint is on 
file. 

" The Rev. Beriah Hotchkin appeared, and re* 
quested to be heard as counsel for Mr. Parker. 
The association unanimously voted to admit Mr. 
Hotchkin as counsel for Mr. Parker in this trial. 

" A communication was then read from Mr. Par- 
ker, requesting, that as he could not be personally 
present in this place without exposing himself to 
arrest and imprisonment; the association would ap- 
point four of their bodj^Wto unite with four minis- 
ters in the state of New-York, to try his cause in 
that state. The association unanimously decided, 
that it is inconsistent, and impracticable, for them 
to commit a subject of this nature, to a committee 
ef their body, much more, to members of other 
bodies. 

" Mr. Parker, by his counsel, then made a re- 
quest that the association would adjourn to sojiie 
place in the state of New- York to try the com- 
plaint. 

" The association unanimously decided, that 
they could not consistently accede to this proposal, 
" The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then declared, that 
bis powers as counsel for Mr. Parker, extended no 
further, that Mr. Parker had given him orders to 
make no defence at this time and place, and to en- 
ter a protest against the association's proceeding to 
try the case, and also to give the association to un- 
derstand, that if they proceeded to investigate and 
decide against him, he should publish a statement 
to the world in his own vindication. 

" The association then proceeded to an investi- 
gation of the case before them. Several witness- 
es being sworn, gave their testimony. Documents 
were read, and a report of a committee of investi- 
gation appointed at a former meeting of the asso- 
ciation was heard, 



204 

" Several witnesses were cited at the requst of 
Mr. Parker, of whom deacon Abel Woodward ap- 
peared and gave his testimony. 

" After hearing all the witnesses present ; the 
association feeling that they are the proper and 
constituted board to try their own members, and 
having evidence that the regular steps prescribed 
by the gospel have been duly taken, and that Mr. 
Parker has been duly cited to appear before the as- 
sociation at this time and place ; after uniting in 
prayer for divine wisdom and guidance, came to 
the following result, (viz.) 

" The association arP* unanimously of opinion 
that within the last two years, and with respect to 
some facts before, not previously investigated ; is 
guilty of not maintaining that regard for truth, and 
of not having been governed by those principles of 
integrity, which are essential to the christian cha- 
racter, and especially that of a christian minister. 

" The association also feel themselves aggrieved 
on account of Mr. Parker's using a certificate of 
his regular standing in the ministry which had pre- 
viously been recalled for his misconduct. 

" After taking these things into consideration, 
the association unanimously deem it their duty t® 
suspend, from henceforth, the authority of the Rev. 
Daniel Parker, to exercise the functions of a min- 
ister of the gospel, derived through them. And 
it is hereby suspended. 

" A true copy of the minutes on file. 

" Attest, Joseph Harvey, 
" Register of Association. ,? 

On perusing the above, it would seem that I sud- 
denly fell inlo a swoon, when the following train 
of reflections arose. 

I forcibly felt, that the climax of inconsistency, 
outrage, and oppression, was perfect and complete 
in all its parts. When recovered, in some small 
degree, from the chilling shock, I seemed to look 



205; 

down upon the authors and abettors of the recent 
slaughter with pity, and yet with mingled emotions 
of grief and horror! It would seem that there 
were discoverable among their group, several, emi- 
nent for their piety and virtue, who occasionally* 
looked back upon the battle ground, and in faint 
and faultering accents sighed out, while the tears 
gently flowed from their weeping eyes, " I do'nt 
know that we did right, I did not then feel clear in 
it;' 5 yet we were impelled on by those who would 
not be restrained from striking the fatal blow. It 
is possible we were not sensible of their real 06- 
jects and intentions. Their arguments were plate- 
sible ; their words were honied; the enormous 
crimes alleged were shocking ; but they were 
managed with distinguished skill; and there were 
witnesses ready and cheerful to testify in favour of 
many of the heinous charges which were advan- 
ced. Although we meant right; yet having, in 
some measure, resigned the reins to those who 
were younger, or more vigorous to defend our 
rights, we did not consult, so extensively, the na- 
ture and manner of operations, having reposed 
full confidence in our leaders. 

In another quarter I seemed to discover the 
leaders, assembled together in celebration of their 
joyful conquest, their hands still reeking with 
blood, and their garments of a crimson hue. 
They appeared to announce their joy with heartfelt 
satisfaction, and seemingly to exult, that the fatal 
die was cast, and their anxious minds temporarily 
relieved ! Envy and vengeance were satiated, and 
"proscription" consummated. They seemed to 
say, the terror of our peace, and the object of our 
envy is gone ! We have entombed him, and he can 
rise no more ! Hush, now, our anxious throbbing 
bosoms ! We are safe from detection ! We are 
secure in our awful enormities, which have continu- 
ally haunted us " in the house and by the way # 
when we lay down, and when we rose up ;" when 



206 

we unblushingly entered the consecrated desk, and 
denounced the judgments of heaven against " liars, 
murderers, slanderers, backbiters, inv enters of 
evil things, the despiteful and malignant," and such 
as indulge in " deceit, dishonesty, oppression, and 
every evil work !" Long have our anxious souls 
been wrung with torture, and wrapt in agony. 
Now take your " ease, eat, drink, and be merry!" 
No terrors or alarms can assail us more ! Our 
most sanguinary hopes have been surpassed, by 
the success of our subtle intrigues and matchless 
skill, to bring over to our views the truly pious and 
unsuspecting of our number. Having secured 
their compliance, although by the vilest measures, 
we feel safe from detection. We are a great and 
powerful body, and none can expect successfully 
to call us to an account. We look with contempt 
at the relentings of Judas; and we will never so 
demean ourselves, as to acknowledge our inferiour 
guilt, or permit the gnawings of the worm that 
never dies to betray our wickedness. We knew that 
the charges which we caused to be exhibited, were 
without the shadow of foundation. We knew they 
could not stand the test of an honest examination a 
single moment. We were therefore under the ne- 
cessity of fixing on a time, and place, when and 
where we knew the respondent could not attend, in 
order to ensure our success. We were furthermore 
obliged to urge the violation of all rules, civil, sa- 
cred, and human, and adopt the grossest inconsis- 
tencies, in order to our speedy and successful issue. 
And yei, to accomplish onr wishes, all our hopes 
and dependence, even in an ex parte trial, were up- 
on perjured witnesses, with whom we were remark- 
ably privileged. Rejoice, O our souls, for the dead 
can no more rise to advocate or maintain their in- 
jured rights ! 

We have persecuted several of our number who 
would not unite with us, in our first attempts, to de- 
stroy the enemy of our repose. Lest our attempts 



20? 

should prove too bold, and thereby expose us to 
detection, having subjected them to awe, we hazard- 
ed a. second effort, without cause or provocation, 
being fully persuaded our former opponents would 
not dare to make further resistance to the accom- 
plishment of our designs. Thus our prowess and 
deception have accomplished wonders, of which 
the most desperate could not have reasonably in- 
dulged the least expectation, and we have discom- 
fited all those, whose piety and integrity presented 
insuperable obstacles to the prosecution of our 
wishes. 

In the full view of these apparent exclamations, I 
seemed lo recover, in a great degree, from the reve- 
rie into which I had been suddenly precipitated by 
such an unparalelled explosion; and while the smoke 
and dust were yet seemingly suffocating to vital 
respiration, I discovered that the animal functions 
had not ceased to fulfil their offices. On further 
examination, although the explosion had been re- 
markably loud, the echo shrill, and the shock truly 
appalling, it did not appear that any of the ossicu- 
lar system had received any material injury. Re- 
suming courage, that I might still resuscitate, al- 
though medical skill did not appear immediately 
to lend its salutary aid, and many of my professed 
friends had seemed to have abandoned me to my 
fate, yet the struggles of nature powerfully re-a&* 
serted their rights, and appeared to indicate return- 
ing life and vigour. 

Having, in some degree, recovered the wonted 
powers of my mind, and finding the attested copy 
of the association still before me, 1 feel it to be in- 
cumbent to examine more carefully into its nature 
and contents. 

On a reperusa! of this attested copy, I seem to 
discover many singularities, of such a nature, as I 
had never before witnessed in any trial. I do not 
recollect ever to e seen before- a result of an 

ecclesiastical court, witnout a particular reference 



208 

to the several articles of charge contained in the 
complaint. It has ever been the case, in every 
other instance, so far as my knowledge has extend- 
ed, either to pronounce the article of charge sup- 
ported by evidence, or the contrary, that the delin- 
quent might know on what grounds he was con- 
demned or acquitted by his judges. This appears 
to have been a custom universally adopted in civil 
as well as ecclesiastical courts, in all civilised and 
protestant countries. But it must be acknowledg- 
ed there is an exception in the present instance. 

Will it be urged, that & place was selected for the 
introduction and prosecution of the wishes of the 
authors and abettors, which was congenial with 
the nature and design of the objects intended to be 
accomplished? Or, must not charity powerfully 
urge the apology, that having casually assembled 
on ground devoted to the civilization and refine- 
ment of the heathen, and having once inhaled the 
air of that sable section, they had become insensi- 
ble, as if by a Lethean draught, to the former refine- 
ments which they had derived from the blessings 
of civilization and Christianity, and thus impercep- 
tibly plunged into this gross barbarism? If this 
apology is not admitted, must not charity be wholly 
effaced, and the authors and abettors of the prosecuti- 
on be acknowledged to be entirely under the influence 
of sinister motives and designs ? Candour and du- 
ty, it must be readily acknowledged, had the mind 
been uncontaminated, would have influenced then* 
to have taken up their articles of charge individu- 
ally, and have frankly said of each charge, that it 
was supported or not by the evidence before them. 

Had there been a solitary article of charge, 
which they had conscientiously considered to have 
been supported by evidence, would they have/ra- 
med their result in the manner they did ? Would 
they have omitted to make mention of a charge 
thus supported by evidence, as a reasonable foun- 
dation on which to ground their censure ? Reason 



209 

and common sense will bear testimony, that the vir 
valence and testimony of some of the active mem- 
bers, which have already been proved, hy incontro- 
vertible testimony, would have led them to grasp 
with eagerness at the least tissue of testimony, 
which would have been even plausible, on which to 
found their vote of censure. I will cheerfully ha- 
zard the assertion, that their testimony was insuffi- 
cient to satisfy their own minds, and therefore they 
durst not ground their censure on any article of 
charge, lest it should expose them in a still more re- 
prehensible manner. The evasion in framing this 
report, I think clearly proves this fact. Indeed, 
they had but one witness, to the support of any 
charge ; and the suggestion of perjury in the testi- 
mony given before them, was even a subject of con- 
versation, or altercation among themselves, before 
they proceeded to pass their vote of censure. 
Hence with some, at least, ignorance could not be 
plead in extenuation of the act. What other infe- 
rence, therefore, can be derived, respecting this 
point, than this plain truth, which has already been 
clearly attested, by those who witnessed but even 
a small portion of their proceedings, that it was ob- 
vious they (meaning the active partisans, whose in- 
fluence controlled the unsuspecting by their zeal and 
efforts) were determined " to condemn me at any 
rate" And who were the active members in this 
and the former persecution? If confined to the 
members of that body, we shall see, eminently con- 
spicuous among their number, Messrs. Perry, 
Stone, and Harvey ; and aiding and assisting with 
a liberal hand, Messrs. Starr, Prentice, and Blair,. 
Reader, retrace their whole procedure, as has ap* 
peared by ample testimony from the commence- 
ment of their operations, and I cheerfully submit to 
your own judgment the obvious reasons for this de- 
cision. 

If we take notice of particulars in the attest- 
ed copy, it is clearly apparent that all are shst: 

19 



210 

ped to the accomplishment of this unexampled 
result. 

In the first place, of the members who compo- 
sed the board, we find all the virulent, active partu 
sans are present, and but three who have not al- 
ready been distinguished in the preceding state- 
ment, as actively engaged to procure my crimina- 
tion, viz. Messrs. Mills, Cowles, and Emerson. 
The last is a member who has been united with 
the association since my removal from Connecticut, 
with whom I have not the least personal acquaint- 
ance. Messrs. Mills and Cowles were opposed to 
their result, one of whom had been employed as a 
second, by the appointment of the body, to witness 
the forms of taking the nominally prescribed rules 
of the gospel, in order to bring me before them for 
condemnation, although he has repeatedly made 
the declaration, that he was convinced, from the 
documents which I was enabled to exhibit at the 
time the charges were preferred, (of which I had 
not the least previous knowledge,) that there was 
no foundation for either of their charges ; and that 
he left Greeneville at that time, fully determined, 
to oppose their attempts to criminate me on the 
charges alleged. The other member, viz. the 
Rev. Mr. Mills, had, by various exertions, been in- 
fluenced to unite in the combination, but had the 
independence to declare, that he did not doubt but 
I should be able, were I indulged with the privi- 
lege, to remove their numerous and flagrant asper- 
sions. Yet by compulsory measures, the two lat- 
ter were brought to unite in the vote of censure ; 
the one, as he has declared to me, for the sole pur- 
pose of procuring the opportunity of my being 
heard in defence immediately after, which, as he 
supposed, would otherwise have been wholly pre- 
cluded, but which has since been refused ; the oth- 
er has since declared " that they had cut my 
throat, that he did not then know or feel clear in 
i1 9 nor had he since, but they seemed determined 



211 

to take that course. " Hence this particular in 
clearly resolved. 

Their minutes then state, that " the association 
unanimously voted to admit Mr. Hotchkin as coun- 
sel for Mr. Parker in this trial." 

This perversion is singular, as I had employed 
Mr. Hotchkin merely as an agent, for the purpose 
of negotiating an opportunity for attendance in 
person, in my defence, as was clearly -exhibited in 
my communications. 

They then observe, in relation to my request 
that they would appoint four of their members to 
unite with four ministers in the state of New-York, 
to investigate and decide upon the subjects of in- 
quiry, that " the association unanimously decided, 
that it is inconsistent and impracticable for them 
to commit a subject of this nature to a committee 
of the body, much more to members of other bo- 
dies." 

Why this unwillingness " to commit a subject of 
this nature to a committee ?" It would be neither 
new nor unprecedented, but in accordance with * 
common usages. Were these prosecutors fearful 
that they should not be appointed on this commit- 
tee, and therefore could not fulfil their pledges* 
" that they would act in my trial," and thus fail 
of gratifying the native propensity of their feelings, 
by giving their vote against me? And did they 
also entertain fears, that those who were not par- 
ticular members of their body, (a circumstance 
which in former cases they had uniformly acced- 
ed to,) would act disinterestedly, and possibly their 
feelings might not be gratified in their decision? 
and therefore, for the purpose of being sure to con- 
demn, they would claim their own exclusive right 
to pass the vote of censure ? 

But who were these objectors ? The affidavits 
have, doubtless, sufficiently exhibited. Some, it 
would seem, who had long before been served with 
copies of complaints, for grossly unchristian con- 



212 

4$nct, but had evaded a trial, by a hasty alieratiart 
of their constitution ; and others, no doubt, who 
were in constant/ear, on their own account, as well 
as for some of their associates. Thus, the rejec- 
tion of this request must doubtless have been cor- 
dial with many. 

" Mr. Parker, by his counsel, then made a re- 
quest, that the association would adjourn to some 
place in the state of New- York to try the com- 
plaint. The association unanimously decided that 
they could not consistently accede to this propo* 
«al." 

This is indeed flagrant, if I have received cor- 
rect impressions from Mr. Beach, whom I under- 
stood to say, when at Greenville, that the body had 
agreed, at their preceding session, if I could not 
consistently come over the line to attend the trial, 
but would send a request to them to adjourn to a 
future time, and come over the line, it should be 
granted. He moreover added, just before he left 
my house, " that he would use his utmost efforts, 
that such a request should be granted ." I leave 
it with the reader to reconcile these pledges with 
their attested decision. It will be noticed that the 
attested minutes of their register declare Mr. 
Beach to have been in this vote; and as he had 
been their agent, they were bound to ratify his 
pledges. 

" The Rev. Mr. Hotchkin then declared that his 
power, as counsel for Mr. Parker, extended no fur- 
ther; that Mr. Parker had given him orders to 
make no defence at this time and place, and to en- 
ter a protest against the association's proceeding to 
try the case, and also to give the association to un- 
derstand, that if they proceeded to investigate and 
decide against him, he should publish a statement 
to the world in his own vindication. " 

It will be clearly recollected, with what con- 
tempt, or disdain, this last communication was re- 
ceived; nor can the highly abusive treatment. 



213 

which Mr* Hotchkin received, from some of the 
members, at the time of his making these verba! 
communications, be easily erased from the mind. 

" The association then proceeded to an investi 
gation of the case before them. Several witnesses 
being sworn, gave their testimony/' 

How did they proceed to an investigation ? 
Was it not by publishing, that those who were con- 
sidered as my witnesses they should have no need 
to call upon, that they only wished to find witness- 
es te testify against me? Can such a procedure 
be called an investigation? Is it a candid and 
christian investigation ? Would it not have been 
suitable for them to have surveyed the place where 
they held their session, and have endeavoured to 
ascertain whether they had not " put darkness for 
light, and bitter for sweet?" 

u Documents were read, and a report of a com- 
mittee of investigation appointed at a former meet- 
ing of the association was heard." 

Who was this committee, and what was the re- 
port? Was it the domestic committee, viz. Messrs, 
Gillet and Hallock, who had been from Cornwall to 
Sharon town, occasionally calling from house to 
house, and inquiring whether the occupants could 
not say something against me? And when they 
replied they could not, the inquiry was made 
whether they could not, by close reflection, say 
something which would operate against me? Did 
they comprehend, in this report, the plaintive sto- 
ry of D. St. John, how he had been unexpectedly 
deprived of his property and reduced to beggary 
by my statement? If such were the documents 
and report, let an impartial mind draw its own in- 
ferences. It must be clearly obvious, that this 
was a part of their " investigation." 

" Several witnesses were cited at the request of 
Mr. Parker, of whom deacon Abel Woodward ap- 
peared and gave his testimony," 

19# 



214 

Who cited these witnesses ? Mr. Philo Swift. 
Is he a magistrate or clergyman ? Neither. Did I 
request him to cite them? I surely did not. Who 
is he ? The same man who had twice testified un- 
der the solemnity of an oath, contrary to facts, 
and to whom I had addressed a request, that he 
would redress me for his untruths. Was he cancel- 
ling my demand on him by his faithful labours ? 

Why do their minutes assert " that several wit- 
nesses were cited at the request of Mr. Parker," 
and signify that deacon Woodward only attend- 
ed ? Why did they not mention that deacon Sey- 
mour and Mr. Norton attended? Did they not 
know they were there ? If not, they will undoubt- 
edly have known it hereafter. Why were they not 
called upon to testify in t&e " investigation V 9 
They state, they had no opportunity to testify, and 
it was communicated to them, that witnesses on 
my part would not be needed, as their object was 
to admit witnesses only who would testify against 
me. Does not the expression, therefore, seem to 
have been designed as a veil to cover hypocrisy ? 
As they pronounced those who were called my 
witnesses to be released at the commencement of 
the trial, I cannot possibly account for the insinua- 
tion that there were witnesses at the trial, who tes- 
tified in my behalf 

It is signified that deacon Woodward appeared 
for the purpose of testifying as my witness. Why 
not state the whole of the facts, as he and others 
have declared to me, viz. that they called on him 
evidently with a design to have him criminate me, 
by testifying that I had removed from Connecticut 
an unreasonable quantity of household furniture ? 

When his testimony could not gratify the desires 
of the prosecutors, why did they not, like honest 
men, put inquiries to him, as they pronounce him 
my witness, relative to facts, which would go to ex- 
culpate me from some of their charges, of which he 
was possessed. But, so far as I have been inform- 



215 

ed, there was no question of this description put to 
him. Dr. Calhoon was present, whether he had 
been summoned by Mr. Swift, or not, I have no 
knowledge ; yet I had referred Mr. Beach to him, 
as an important witness, and had derived the idea 
of a promise, that he should be conversed with, 
and he was even employed by the body, as a ma- 
gistrate, to qualify their witnesses, when the irn* 
portant article of charge was on trial, of which he 
had then knowledge of the facts. Why did they not 
call on him, in their " investigation," or search for 
truth, as their declaration implies? The whole pro- 
cedure clearly defeats itself, and plainly discovers 
the real objects. 

" After hearing all the witnesses present." How 
is this ? Had any but deacon Woodward, agreea- 
bly to their own record, been called upon to testi- 
fy, of those whom they called my witnesses? Mr, 
Swift had cited a number, some of whom did assu- 
redly attend, besides deacon Woodward, but were 
never called upon by them to testify. How then 
are we to understand this expression, " after hear- 
ing all the witnesses present ," in connection with 
the last sentence, " several witnesses were cited at 
the request of Mr. Parker, of whom deacon Abel 
Woodward appeared and gave in his testimon}'." 
Let the reader reconcile this difficulty to his own 
satisfaction. 

" The association feeling that they are the pro- 
per and constituted board to try their own mem- 
bers." 

What could have originated this suggestion res- 
pecting their inherent rights, unless conscience had 
pressed hard upon them ? Indeed, why do they 
claim, exclusively to themselves, this prerogative, 
unless from an apprehension that no others could 
be found, who would have proceeded to pass sen- 
tence, as they had already been determined upon. 

" And having evidence that the regular steps 
prescribe by the gospel have been duly taken. 



216 

and that Mr. Parker has been duly cited to appear 
before the association at this time and place. " 

Here are apparent alarms exhibited, lest it 
might be supposed they were proceeding prema- 
turely, and there might be a design to repel the sus- 
picion. I apprehend their alarms are well ground- 
ed ; and I take the burden upon myself to prove, 
on their own argument, they were in reality pro- 
ceeding prematurely. 

They have already asserted, " that they have 
evidence that the regular steps have been duly ta- 
ken, prescribed in the gospel, and that I have 
been duly cited to appear before them at that time 
and place" 

It will be recollected that the affidavits of dea- 
con Seymour, and Mr. Norton, attest, and the same 
fact I shall hereafter exhibit, from their moderator's 
letter afterwards addressed to me, that one power- 
ful and conclusive argument for rejecting my sec- 
ond communication, sent by Mr. Hotchkin, re- 
questing them to come over the line, was, that they 
could not as a body act legally out of their limits, 
and especially out of the state; and therefore 
what they should do in that case would not be bind- 
ing. Is a part of a thing greater than the whole ? 
If not, could that body delegate a committee from 
their number to come over into this state to take 
the first and second steps, and here cite me, " in 
the name and behalf" of their association, to ap- 
pear before them in Connecticut, when their whole 
body, if they were to cdme over the line, could 
not act legally, because they would be out of their 
limits ? Their excuse and argument were, for re- 
jecting my request, that they could not act legal- 
ly, if their body came over the line. Then, could 
their committee who were but a part, act legally 
in taking the steps, and citing me to attend before 
them? Did they not lose their powers the mo- 
ment they classed the line, by exceeding the lim* 
tts of their jurisdiction t I 



air 

On their own argument, therefore, I have never 
been legally called upon by them ; consequently 
all their proceedings are not only invalid, but 
grossly criminal. It is, hence, clearly apparent, 
that there was abundant cause for alarms ; and it 
seems reasonable to suppose, that the sentence was 
framed for the purpose of deceiving others, in plau- 
sibly suggesting their hsxing complied with the gos- 
pel rules, as a complete justification for them to 
strike a fatal blow, when their own argument de- 
clared the contrary, and condemned themselves in 
thv very act. Who will not weep over them ? 

I pass over the next sentence, lest revilers and 
scoffers should have too much reason to triumph. 

" The association are unanimously of opinion, 
that within the last two years, and with respect to 
some facts before, not previously investigated, is 
guilty of not maintaining that regard for truth, and 
of not having been governed by those principles of 
integrity which are essential to the christian charac- 
ter, and especially that of a christian minister." 

I know not the meaning intended to be conveyed 
in this paragraph. Whether duplicity was de- 
signed in framing it, I know not. It would be ex- 
pected their object was to pronounce sentence 
against me. But there is nothing of this kind in 
the sentence. It is possible there was an intention 
to rally under false colours, although they after- 
wards proceed to withdraw the clerical powers 
which I had derived through them ; and that, as ap- 
pears, after having pronounced themselves to be 
guilty. They assert, " the association are unani- 
mously of opinion, that within the last two years, 
and with respect to some facts before, not previous- 
ly investigated, is guilty, &c." Who is guilty T 
The association is the only agent or nominative, 
which is introduced into the sentence; consequent- 
ly the plain inference is, that guilt is predicated of 
the association, for no other agent is named. Al- 
though facts clearly testify, that such a sentence f* 



218 

distinguishingly applicable to many of their mem- 
bers, under all the circumstances which they speci- 
fy ; yet it is extraordinary that they should have 
framed their result in this manner, when professed- 
ly sitting in judgment upon another, unless, by a 
conviction of conscience, they viewed their case 
analogous to that of the " guilty judge." And yet 
it seems that it can be no mistake in the attested co- 
py, as it appears to have been written as was in- 
tended by the scribe. It is clearly visible, where 
the words "is guilty" are inserted, there had been 
an erasure, which discovers that it was differently 
written in the first place, and then altered for the 
purpose of having it correct ; and it is attested by 
the register as a true copy of the minutes on file. 
If so, then their own records testify, that the asso- 
ciation pronounced itself to be guilty oi not main- 
taining that regard for truth, and of not having been 
governed by those principles of integrity, which 
are essential to the christian character, and espe- 
cially that of a christian minister." 

The propriety of this, as a fact, with respect to 
some of the members, I should doubt. With re- 
spect to others, I have not the least hesitation. 

" The association also feel themselves aggriev- 
ed on account of Mr. Parker's using a certificate of 
his regular standing in the ministry, which had 
previously been recalled for his misconduct." 

Language is incompetent to a description of the 
flagrant injustice and iniquity which this short sen- 
tence discloses. In the first place, how came the 
subject before them, and by what authority could 
they proceed at that time, even to act upon it, when 
the first intelligence I had received respecting it, 
was contained in the attested copy of their doings ? 
Had there been the least foundation for such a 
charge and censure, the scriptures direct, as a pre- 
paratory step, " Go and tell thy brother his fault 
between thee and him alone. If he will not hear 
thee, then take with thee one or two more.' 5 If he 



219 

still refuse, " tell it to the church." Not the least 
compliance with this direction had been attempted. 
The first step was publicly to introduce it, and as 
publicly to pass a censure. This, however, was 
not the only instance in which they then permitted 
subjects to be exhibited before them, of which I had 
not the least previous knowledge, either by infor- 
mation or fact, as if, under any pretext whatever, 
they were determined te inflict a censure. St. Do- 
minic would evidently have blushed at such a pro- 
cedure. 

But, secondly, there w r as not a shadow of foun- 
dation for such an aspersion and censure. By re- 
curring to the 98th and 99th pages, the reader will 
see all the credentials which I ever received from 
that body, of my ministerial standing, together 
with the letter from the committee of certification, 
which accompanied the last certificate. The let- 
ter states how and by whom the last certificate was 
dictated. The Rev. Mr. Mills furthermore inform- 
ed a respectable clergyman, the September follow- 
ing the date of bis letter and certificate, that Mr. 
Beecher drafted the last certificate, and ordered 
him to copy and send it on to me, which he faithful- 
ly performed. Yet it will be noticed that my last 
certificate certifies my regular standing in the mi- 
nistry equally with the first, although it was thus 
drafted by a person who was not a member of the 
same association, and ordered to be copied and sent 
on to me. Hence it was impossible for me to exhi- 
bit any other certificate, than that of my regular 
standing in the ministry ; and yet, for the use of i{, 
I was censured. They assert, " the association 
feel themselves aggrieved, on account of Mr. Par- 
ker's using a certificate of his regular standing in 
the ministry." This was, no doubt, a cordial de- 
claration of the real wishes of those, who had used 
their utmost efforts long before, but without success, 
and had again renewed their exertions to asperse 
my reputation, and cast a reproach on me, with the 



220 

cheering hope, that the detection and punishment of 
their own iniquities might thereby be avoided. 
Does it indeed seem possible to reconcile this de- 
claration of theirs, with honest intentions ? And is 
it not evidently calculated, if not designed, to re- 
present to the world, that I had, in a criminal 
manner, made use of a certificate of my regular 
standing in the ministry, to which I was not justly 
entitled, and thus to asperse my reputation by the 
vile act of slander. 

They then add, as an appendage to the last sen- 
tence, " which had been previously recalled for his 
misconduct." This declaration cannot be recon- 
ciled with facts, and must have been well under- 
stood, at least by some of the members, at that time. 
When were my credentials of my regular standing 
in the ministry "recalled" by any resolution or di- 
rection of the association, before they proceeded to 
pass the vote of censure, when they were assem- 
bled on lieathen premises ? Never. I challenge 
them to produce a solitary trace of it. When did 
they direct Mr. Mills, their committee of certifica- 
tion, to do it? Never. Why did Mr. Mills write 
me a letter, laying an " embargo"^ on the first cer- 
tificate ? He has expressly declared, that it was oc- 
casioned by the mandate of Mr. Beecher, of course 
it was done without the least knowledge of the as- 
sociation. Nor were the association together again 
until more than two months afterwards, and it was 
not even then ratified by them, or ever after, until 
they passed the censure. But what accompanied 
this letter ? Another certificate, although drafted by 
Mr. Beecher, who is well known very commonly to 
have been " a busy body in other mens* matters," 
but which certificate certified, as the former did, 
Cl that I was a minister of the gospel in regular 

* I have used the word " embargo," in allusion to the 
technical form in which the Rev. Mr. Mills was pleased to 
iutroduce it in his letter, which accompanied my second cer- 
tificate* 



221 

standing." Will they plead that this certificate 
had been " embargoed V If not, the assertion is 
entirely unfounded, that a certificate of my regular 
standing in the ministry has ever been " recalled?" 

But the ground alleged for " recalling" the cer- 
tificate, is for " misconduct." This is a most hei- 
nous slander, predicated upon gross falsehoods? 
as the certificates and their own records will testi- 
fy. Is it possible for their records to show the least 
trace of such facts, when they were ignorant fou 
months, and some of them, probably, for years af- 
ter 3Ir. Beeclier had dictated to Mr. Mills on this 
subject, and that without the slightest authority or 
cause ; and when he was himself constrained to 
certify my " regular standing," which it is obvious 
he would gladly have avoided, could he have fra- 
med the slightest pretext for " misconduct" 

What was the " misconduct ?" Had any article 
of charge against me ever been supported (even 
with all the active exertions which had been ren- 
dered by certain individuals) which had been ex- 
hibited before them 1 There is no such thing, and 
I cheerfully appeal to their records for proof. 
Can it be reasonable to suppose that any act of Mr- 
Beecher's could authorize the declaration, even 
had the association regarded it as &papal mandate, 
when he had expressly declared, probably not two 
days before he wrote the certificate, which he or- 
dered Mr. Mills to forward to me, that " there was 
nothing for which they could censure me ?" Thus 
in every view the declaration is fraught with insupe- 
rable difficulties. It clearly implies a violation of 
truth in severarparticulars, it involves the guilt of 
slander in a very aggravating manner, and was 
acted upon in open violation of the rules of the 
gospel, 

When their Rev. moderator, Mr. Starr, was a 
few weeks after their trial at Cairo, he was inquired 
of, among others, by judge Sayre, relative to their 
passing a censure upon me for the use of my minis- 

20 



222 

ferial credentials. Mr. Star replied, that the Her* 
Mr. Hotchkin testified before them, that I had ex- 
hibited credentials of my regular standing in the 
ministry ; that they called on their committee of 
certification, the Rev. Mr. Mills, and that he 
testified that he had sent a letter laying an " em- 
bargo 99 on my certificate. Mr. Starr added, that 
they could not do otherwise than to pass the cen- 
sure. Judge Say re informed him that I had shown 
them two certificates, the latter of which was of 
the same date with the letter, which pronounced 
an "embargo" to be laid on the first, but which 
certified my regular standing in the ministry equali- 
ty with the first. Mr. Starr replied, Mr. Mills 
did not tell us he had sent a second certificate. 
If their own members would not state the facts, and 
they would not give me an opportunity to be heard 
in my own defence, how could they expect to come 
to the light of truth. Mr. Starr observed, " they 
had done right.' 9 

Soon after their decision, I was at Litchfield,, 
and was informed by a gentleman of high respecta- 
bility and standing, that there was but one thing 
which the association had brought before them, 
which he considered to be worthy of notice, <nd 
that was my use of my ministerial credentials in an 
improper manner. He observed, it was right that 
I should suffer some, for such an impropriety. The 
other subjects of inquiry, he observed, were mere 
" froth. 5 * I immediately presented him with my 
credentials, and requested him to examine for him- 
self. He perused them, after which, with much 
apparent indignation, he recommended my publish- 
ing them in common news prints, without delay. 
Several other gentlemen were present at the same 
time and concurred in the advice. I replied, that 
I designed to publish them, but should adopt a dif- 
ferent medium in giving them to the public. 

Their attested copy closes in these words : " af- 
ter taking these things into consideration, the asso- 



223 

ciation unanimously deem it to be their duty io 
suspend, from henceforth, the authority of the Rev. 
Daniel Parker to exercise the functions of a min- 
ister of the gospel derived through them. And it v 
is hereby suspended." 

The inquiry irresistibly arises, What things? 
Is reference had to the subject of my credentials, 
as one of the things ? If so, is there not a com- 
plete perversion of the criminality ? Is it reason- 
able or honest to impose upon an innocent man the 
burdens of the guilty ? Or, as the plural number 
is used, viz. things, and the subject of my creden- 
tials would seern to imply but one, is it not ration- 
al to suppose, that their result must embrace an- 
other, as nothing else is discoverable which would 
seem to imply censure ? But whom does the result 
pronounce to be guilty ? If their attested copy is 
correct, as the register certifies, the guilt is evi- 
dently declared to be on their part for two yearn 
or more preceding, and that for " not maintaining 
that regard for truth, and not having- been governed 
by those principles of integrity which are essen- 
tial to the christian character, and especially that 
of a christian minister." This w 7 ould seem to cor- 
respond with the proper penalties resulting from 
the complaints which I had filed against some of 
thfiir members, a little more than two years before, 
for the same crimes as are declared to exist, but 
which complaints were then rescued from trial by 
an unprecedented and hasty alteration of their con- 
stitution. With what principles will this proce- 
dure correspond, and in accordance with what usa- 
ges, viz. to attempt a sudden transfer of acknow- 
ledged guilt and detected iniquity, to another, res- 
pecting whom there was not the least possible 
grounds to inflict a censure, and thus to make th£ 
innocent a scape-goat to bear the acknowledged 
sins of many. Would not such a burden seem 
to be insupportable as well as oppressive ? And 
yet must this transfer of guilt necessarily cause to 






224 

be superadded, as its inseparable concomitant, a 
suspension of my authority to exercise the func- 
tions of a minister of the gospel? For what object 
was this aspersion inflicted? Was it not the effect 
of an unconquerable desire, to transfer the guilt of 
others, who were tremblingly alive to the dangers 
to which their vile iniquities had justly exposed 
them, and by the accomplishment of which, Ihey 
fondly indulged the hope of escaping detection and 
punishment in this life? 

Is it reasonable to put any other constructions 
than these on their proceedings, or minutes ? It 
will assuredly be acknowledged by all, that if a 
solitary article of charge, which had been exhibit- 
ed against me, could have been supported satisfac- 
torily to their own minds, even in their ex parte 
trial, that they would have gladly availed them- 
selves of it, in framing their minutes, favourably to 
insert their vote of censure, that it might have 
been exhibited as a plausible and reasonable foun- 
dation, on which to predicate guilt. But I pledge 
myself, that even with their perjured testimony, 
which I shall shortly expose, they could not sub- 
stantiate any charge, either in point of fact, or suf- 
ficiently to satisfy their own minds. 

In further proof that " proscription" must then 
be consummated, it may be proper to mention, that 
Mr. Beach had pledged himself to me, when at 
Greenville, that there should be no censure pass- 
ed upon me at Corn-wall, if J could not give my 
personal attendance. This pledge the Rev. Mr. 
fcowles noted down at the time, in connexion with 
many other particulars^ for the purpose of assist- 
ing his memory. Some time after the censure was 
passed upon me, Mr. Cowles made the inquiry of 
Mr. Beach, whether he had not pledged himself to 
me, that there should be no decision against me, 
if I could not attend the trial ? Mr. Beach said " he 
had not." Mr. Cowles soon after recurred to his 
minutes, and found the pledge was there entered,. 



225 

Afterwards, on seeing Mr. Beach, he informed hiin 
that he had bound himself to me by a pledge, and 
he had entered it upon his minutes at the time. 
Mr. Beach replied he had forgotten it. 

What a mysterious combination of circumstan- 
ces ! Pledges, efforts, testimony, promises, and 
desires, all harmonising in the accomplishment 
of the "proscription" and ingeniously exhibited, 
as is apparent by the attested copy of their do- 
ings ! Do not truth, justice, and humanity de- 
mand that it should be " delineated ?" 

The testimony of the important witnesses, whom 
the association improved, will next claim attention. 
Many unpleasant truths have already been related 
relative to Mr. St. John. The cause of truth and 
justice demand that the catalogue of his crimes 
should be yet greatly enlarged* 

Although enough may have been already exhib- 
ited, in relation to the subject of my injuring him 
in his property, yet I deem it suitable to place the 
subject beyond the controversy of the most scep- 
tical. However his testimony may have been at 
Cornwall on this point, and his numerous declara- 
tions at other times, that he had been greatly in- 
jured by me in his properly, and that I was the 
cause of his failure, I will take the liberty to state 
a few facts which will come directly to the point. 

Within the period of about one month after he 
had testified, he declared, in the hearing of Messrs. 
Ezekiel St. John and Benjamin Wilson, that he 
had never paid a shilling for me on any occasion, 
except after the failure, to Mr- Leavitt. When 
it was replied, that he Was indebted to Mr. Leavitt 
in a large sum, and the property which Mr* 
Leavitt received of him would not, probably, more 
than cancel his own debt, Mr. St. John seemed 
to be greatly disobliged, and frowned upon them 
for not crediting his statement. I have since re- 
quested a gentleman to ascertain whether Mr. St. 
John had paid any thing to Mr. Leavitt on mv ac- 

20* 



226 

count, and have received a verbal answer fromhim 
that there has not been even a farthing paid there 
for me. Thus his own declaration contradicts his 
repeated assertions, and renders it evident, if he is 
to be believed, that I could not have been the 
cause of his failure, as he had never advanced a 
shilling for me in any instance ; but, on the contra- 
ry, he testified at Cornwall, that " he was indebted 
to me about 700 dollars." 

But as a further proof, it may be proper to give 
a statement of the debts which he still owes, after 
having disposed of all his lands, stock, and even 
the greater part of his son's property, and which 
he is totally unable to cancel. 

In making this estimate, I have received assist- 
ance from a person, who has, probably, had as cor- 
rect a knowledge of Mr. St. John's pecuniary cir- 
cumstances, as any man, and who is confident that 
the aggregate falls far short of the amount which 
he owes. It may be possible there is an excess of 
a few dollars in some instances, but it is not proba- 
ble. Many of his small debts, of which we have 
certain knowledge, are left entirely out of the ac- 
count ; and it is probable some of a large amount 
are omitted. But so far as they are stated, the 
statement will, no doubt, be found to be substan- 
tially correct. 



To R. St. John, 


$3,000 


W. Knapp, 


2,000 


Phoenix Bank & Millard,. 


l,50O 


Street & Hughes, 


1,450 


D. Parker, - - 


1,066 


E. Monson & Brokers, 


1,000 


T. St. John, • ■ 


750 


J. Welton, 


700 


J. Piatt, . . . 


700 


Derby Bank, 


- 600 



12,766 



227 



Brought forward, 


$12,766 


J. Everitt, 


500 


W. Lewis, 


400 


Ellsworth fund, 


166 


B. Peck, 


150 


E. Miles & Co. 


80 


■ 


$14,062 


Interest 4 years at 6 per cent. 


3,374 


Amount, - - - - 


$ 17,436 



This estimate undoubtedly falls short of the real 
amount of his debts a thousand, if not thousands 
of dollars. 

Will Mr. St. John survey this estimate, and 
say he could have been injured by any person ? 
Had he lost money by others, his creditors might 
have been injured. But I know of no loss of this 
kind which he has sustained. With the certain 
knowledge of such an immense amount due from 
him, when he petitioned the legislature of Con- 
necticut to be liberated from my debts, and he 
could meet his own; and also when he testified at 
Cornwall, with an evident design to screen himself 
by casting blame on me, how could he frame his 
mouth to speak? Might he not have justly expect- 
ed, at the same instant, to have seen the " hand 
writing on the wall ?" 

But it will be important to trace his other decla- 
rations. He proceeded to testify, that he went to 
the Hartford Phoenix Bank, about the 5th of Sep- 
tember, 1814, by my request, and obtained the dis- 
count of two notes of $1000 each, exclusively for 
my benefit, and that he had no interest whatever 
in the same. He also testified, that I did at that 
time send by him to the Phoenix Bank, a statement 
of my property, for the purpose of obtaining the 
loans, fro/n which statement, as he believed I 
would give no other than a correct one, he was in- 



223 



duced to endorse both of the said notes ; and that 
without his endorsement of the notes, the loans 
could not be obtained, but with his endorsements, 
the bank would discount them. 

This testimony of Mr. St. John involves him in 
the awful guilt of perjury. Indeed, there is too 
great reason to fear there has been another act 
perpetrated by hint/ in relation to the loans, which, 
if investigated, would result in unpleasant conse- 
quences. 

That I sent him to obtain loans at that time, is 
of little consequence in itself; yet in respect to the 
fact, it is untrue, as his interest in going was equal 
with my own. But the declaration, that I sent by 
him a statement of my property to the bank, is 
without the shadow of foundation, and he must 
have known it to be entirely false when he uttered 
it. I appeal to the Phoenix Bank in proof of my 
declaration. Had I sent them a document of this 
kind, it must still be in their possession. On this 
point, therefore, it can be easily proved that he 
testified falsely. 

In the second place, one of the notes discounted 
was exclusively for his benefit, and he must have 
known that he received the whole avails of it. At 
the time the loans were negotiated, the bank had but 
recently been established. Their funds were dealt 
out, except their deposits, which had been made in 
the Mechanics' Bank in the city of New- York, for 
the purpose of redeeming their paper. Mr. St. 
John was informed at the bank, that the loans could 
not be furnished, unless he would accept of a draft 
on the Mechanics' Bank for the avails of the notes. 
To this he agreed, and received the draft. On 
his return, he informed me that he had obtained the 
discount of one thousand dollars for myself, and a 
like sum for his own benefit; and had received a 
draft for the avails of both notes, on the Mechan- 
ics' Bank., which he should send by Mr. Wilson*. a 



229 

merchant in the town, who would shortly go la 
^few-York to purchase goods. 

He soon after presented the draft to Mr. Wilson, 
and informed him, that the half belonged to me, 
and the remaining half to himself. He requested 
Mr. Wilson to advance him the balance on his 
share, after deducting several hundred dollars, 
which he had previously borrowed of him, to be 
replaced before he should go to New-York ; the 
other half he directed Mr. Wilson to arrange with 
me, as he could agree with me. He accordingly 
received of Mr. Wilson a part of his share at that 
time, and the residue on Mr. Wilson's return* 
These are the facts relative to this subject, which 
Mr. St. John well understood when he gave his 
testimony. In confirmation ©f these statements, I 
subjoin several affidavits, 
i 

" I, Ezekiel St. John, depose and say, that Da- 
niel St. John did testify, under the solemnity of an 
oath, before the association at Cornwall, at Mr. 
Parker's trial in August, 1817, that he went to the 
Hartford Phoenix bank, in September, 1814, and 
obtained the discount of two notes of one thousand 
dollars each, for the benefit of Mr. Parker, and 
that he had no interest whatever in the same. Al- 
so, that Mr. Parker sent forward by him at the 
time, a letter and inventory of his property to the 
said bank. Also-, that Mr. Parker, as appeared by 
the said John's testimony, had given him the said 
Sfc* John a statement of his debts and property; 
and the said St. John testified that he was thui 
influenced to indorse the above notes, without 
which the loans could not have been obtained ; and 
thus Mr. Parker had practised a deception on hirn # 
the witness, and brought upon him great injury, as 
the representation of his debts, &c. were not justly 
stated. I was fully impressed with the belief, at the 
time the said witness was testifying, from circum- 
stances with which I was acquainted, that his. tes* 



230 

ilmony was incorrect, and that no inventory had 
been sent by him, the said St. John, to the said 
bank. 

" I furthermore depose and say, that from what 
personal knowledge I had of Mr. Parker's and the 
witnesses' pecuniary circumstances, I was fully im- 
pressed with the belief that D. St. John would have 
failed before he did, had he not been kept up by 
Mr. Parker. 

" I furthermore depose and say, that from the 
testimony of D. St. John, at Cornwall, and also 
from his declarations in my hearing at other times, 
I uniformly derived the idea from him, that he had 
never paid any debt for Mr. Parker, except to Shel- 
don C. Leavitt ; and from the best information I 
I am able to obtain, he has not paid any thing to 
Mr. Leavitt for Mr. Parker." 

" EZEKIEL ST. JOHN." 

" Personally appeared Ezekiel St. John, and 
made solemn oath, that the foregoing affidavit is 
substantially true, before me, this 28th day of Oc- 
tober, 1818, in the city of Hudson. 

" John Raynor, Just. Peace." 

" I, Enoch Peck, of lawful age, depose and say, 
that on or about the 13th of August, 1817, at Corn- 
wall, before the north association of Litchfield 
county.. I heard Daniel St. John, Esq. testify and 
say, that in the monrh of September, 1814, he 
went to the Hartford Phoenix bank, and obtained 
the discount of too notes of one thousand dollars 
each, solely and exclusively for the benefit of Da- 
niel Parker, then a resident of Sharon, and that he 
had no interest or benefit whatever in the said 
notes. 

"ENOCH PECK." 



« New-Haven, Oct. 12th, 1818. Personally ap- 
peared Enoch Peck, before me the subscriber, and 
made solemn oath that the above is true. 

( * Chatjncey Buncb, Just. Peace*" 



231 

" I, Benjamin Wilson, of lawful age, do depose 
and say, that in the month of September, 1814, 
Daniel St. John, Esq. called on me, and presented 
me with a draft on the Mechanics' bank in the city 
of New- York, for or about the sum of 1969 dollars, 
which draft was signed by the cashier of the 
Hartford Phoenix bank, and bearing date on or 
about the the 5th day of Sept. 1814, on the delivery 
of which draft the said St. John stated to me, that 
one half of the said draft belonged to him, and the 
other half of said draft belonged to Daniel Parker; 
and my impression is, that he requested me to ap- 
ply a sum of money, then due me by the said St. 
John, on his share of said draft ; and the residue 
of his said share, what I could not acconnt with 
him before, I should on my return from New-York, 
and accordingly did the same; and the remaining 
half of the said draft he requested me to settle with, 
the said Parker as I could agree with him. 

« BENJAMIN WILSON." 

u Sworn before me at Sharon, this 4th day of 
December, 1817. 

" Ansel Sterling, Justice Peace." 

Should further proof be required in relation to 
Mr. St. John's having and receiving a portion of 
the money, Dr. Calhoon is referred to, who has in- 
formed me that Mr. St. John had acknowledged 
to him that he received a share of the loans, and 
if he were called upon, he should be obliged to tes- 
tify it. 

The Rev. Mr. Lyman also received from Mr. 
St. John sixteen dollars and some cents, the amount 
of interest on his note for ninety-five days. The 
payment of this sum to Mr. Lyman was occasioned 
by Mr. 3f . John's making use of the dividend mo- 
ney of Ellsworth society fund, which he had drawn 
from thf Hartford bank, by the request of the fund 
committee, and he had applied the same to the pay- 



232 

merit of the interest on his note at the Phoenix 
bank, at the time of the renewal of his note, in De- 
cember, 1814. Thus the testimony is ample, I 
apprehend, in proof of the falsity of Mr. St. John's 
testimony, on each point. 

Feeling that so flagrant a crime as perjury ought 
not to be suffered to pass with impunity, I filed a 
complaint, the September following, against Mr. St. 
John for perjury, on the two points already exhibit- 
ed, and sent it to one of the grand jurors of Corn- 
wall, requesting an investigation of the subjects in 
conformity to the law, and their official duty, and 
referred to witnesses in support of the charges. 
The complaint was soon returned to me with the 
information that nothing had been done. I again 
sent the complaint to be presented to the grand ju- 
ror s of Cornwall, delineating more extensively the 
particulars. Whatever reasons might be assigned 
for a total neglect to attend to the complaint, I do 
not know ; but so far as I can learn, not the least 
attention was paid to it. From this apparent wil- 
lingness, in that region, to suffer iniquity to go un- 
punished, I considered it my duty to use further ef- 
forts to have so gross an offender brought to jus- 
tice. Accordingly, in March last, I filed a new 
complaint, and sent on to be presented to the state's 
attorney in Litchfield county, accompanied with a 
copy of Mr. Wilson's affidavit, and referring to 
other witnesses to support the charges. I was soon 
after informed that the complaint was presented, 
but I have never received any intelligence that fur- 
ther proceedings have been attempted. Thus 
" iniquity" is suffered " to abound," and the " love 
of many is waxed cold." 

In connection with the subject of the loans, which 
have been a theme of the testimony, I deem it suit- 
able to mention here another occurrence, which 
may disclose an unwarrantable procedure. Soon 
after the failure had taken place, an attachment was 
levied upon me by an endorser on each of the afore- 



233 

mentioned notes of 1000 dollars. I inquired of the 
plaintiff what it could mean, when one of the notes 
belonged to Mr. St. John to discharge, whose it 
was, and who had received the avails of it exclu- 
sively ; and the one against myself belonged to a 
different endorser, who had secured it. He replied 
I was the signer of both. I informed him it could 
not be possible, as I had no knowledge of but one 
note which I had signed, and for which I was ac- 
countable. He assured me I was the actual signer 
of both. I replied it could not be true, unless my 
name had been forged to the note of Mr. St. John. 
It was immediately rendered evident that forgery 
had been accomplished. Several gentlemen belong- 
ing to different towns were then at my house, who 
had called upon me for a friendly vibit. Discover- 
ing that an attachment had been levied upon me, 
they voluntarily tendered their bail. To one of 
these, I communicated the information, that the note 
belonging to Mr. St. John was forged ; and that 
the first intelligence I had received on the subject, 
was at that time. The other noxe, I informed him, 
did not belong to the person who had attached, and 
consequently he had no claim on me. I intimated 
to him, that duty impelled me to avail myself of the 
forgery of Mr. St. John's note. He proceeded to 
inquire into the circumstances. I informed him 
that Mr. St. John was the person who negotiated 
the loans at the bank, and no one accompanied him 
at the time ; nor had I ever before had the least 
knowledge, or suspicion of my name being the sig- 
nature to his note ; that I had neither written it, or 
given authority for it to be written : nor could I 
possibly imitate it by the utmost exertions. The 
gentleman observed, that Mr. St. John had sustain- 
ed a good reputation until within a short period, and 
he earnestly entreated me not to expose him, as the 
penalty would, of course, should he be convicted, be 
very unpleasant. He added, it would not be neces- 
sary to adopt that course, in order to obtain a libe 

21 



234 

fation from the claim. I remarked, that a crime of 
30 flagrant a nature ought not to pass unnoticed, 
and I felt myself bound in duty to expose the ini- 
quity. He requested me to forbear, out of com- 
passion to the man, and suffer the offence to pass in 
silence, as I could not be subjected to the payment 
of the demand, on account of the manner in which 
the suit was instituted. 

I employed counsel to defend the suits, and di- 
rected him to plead the forgery of the note, in bar 
to the claim. I informed him that I had never had 
the least interest in the note whatever, nor the 
slightest knowledge or suspicion of my name being 
affixed as signer to the note, until I was attached 
upon it. The attorney expressed a wish that I 
would take a different ground of defence, as it 
would ruin Mr. St. John, if he were convicted of 
the crime ; and that it would not be necessary to 
make this defence in order to a successful vindica- 
tion against the suit. He observed the suit must 
evidently fail, by reason of the informality in insti- 
tuting it. I replied that it was just and proper to 
defend on the ground of forgery, that the iniquity 
might come to light, and the guilty be brought to 
punishment, as so atrocious a crime ought not to pass 
with impunity. From his urgent solicitation that 
I would relinquish that defence, I finally consented 
to his making such defence as he should think 
proper. 

In consequence of the pendency of my petition 
for the benefit of the act, which soon followed, all 
suits against me were suspended, until the fate of 
my petition should be decided. 

A short time before the trial of my petition, I saw 
iome of the gentlemen who had kindly entered 
their common bail, as I have before stated, who in- 
quired of me whether, if my petition did not suc- 
ceed, I should suffer my bail to be injured ? I as- 
sured them I should not ; and made the request, in 
oase my petition should fail, that they would enter 



235 

(heir special bail, for the purpose of trying the me- 
rits of the causes. On the merits I could cheer- 
fully risk the trial, as my note was already cancel- 
led, except a trifling balance of less than fifty dol- 
lars, with the endorser who had secured it to the 
bank by mortgage, and, therefore, claimed it as his 
property ; but from whom it had been taken by the 
plaintiff, contrary to the express prohibitions of the 
owner, and, of course, there was no just claim on 
me in the suit ; and besides, the informality in 
which the plaintiff had brought it, would, no doubt, 
cause him to be nonsuited. In respect to the note 
of Mr. St. John, I might avail myself on the ground 
of forgery, or from the informality of the suit. 

The inquiry was then put, whether in case there 
should be a failure in all these particulars, what 
they might depend upon ? I assured them, that if 
it should be necessary, at any time, for me to ap« 
pear before the court, to save my bail, they might 
-depend upon my attendance, life and health per- 
mittipg ; that my bail should be saved harmless, as 
I would not suffer them to be injured, although 
gross iniquity had been practised upon myself 

On receiving a negative to my petition, by the 
sinister artifices of Mr. St. John, whose objects 
must, I apprehend, be now clearly obvious, I re- 
turned to Greenville. In the following month the 
suits came on for trial before the county court. 
As my baH resided in three different towns, through 
the neglect of some of their number, there was an 
omission to enter special bail. In consequence of 
this neglect, the suits were defaulted, as without 
special bail there could be no trial. My counsel 
then put in a plea to be heard in damages, which 
suspended the suits, and still left the bail secure. 

The situation in which the suits were now pla- 
ced, was soon communicated to me. I speedily 
sent on to have them appealed to the superior 
court, where it was expected there might be a trial 
an the merits of the causes. 



236 

On the third Tuesday of August, 181T, the ses- 
sion of the superior court would commence, during 
which these suits must be decided. It was one 
week previous to the commencement of this ses- 
sion of the court, to which the association had be- 
nevolently adjourned, to attend my trial, as an ac- 
commodating time to accomplish the designed 
" proscription." Indeed, it was in relation to the 
bail in those suits then pending, for which the an- 
ticipated charge was exhibited by Mr. Beach, that 
it was not expected I should attend, the week after 
my execution, and save my bail. Is it to be won- 
dered at, that there should have been solicitude on 
this subject, especially when the cause is consid- 
ered for which the bail was required ; and the 
necessity of the witness, who was shortly to be im- 
proved in order to the accomplishment of their 
"proscription," which had evidently been prede- 
termined? Will not this sufficiently exhibit one of 
the probable reasons why sentence should be pass- 
ed upon me before the session of the superior 
court, lest so glaring iniquity should then be expo- 
sed, as would forever afterwards prevent them from 
improving one of their important witnesses? or 
was this method designed as a shield to protect the 
guilty, by previously aspersing my reputation, for 
the purpose of weakening my defence in the suits 
speedily to be decided ? 

On the commencement of the second week of 
the session of the court, I arrived at Litchfield. 
Previously to my obtaining the benefit of the in- 
solvent act in this state, the plaintiff in the suit had 
become a resident of this state. This would also 
seem to be an insuperable bar to his recovery. 
Thus, if neither forgery nor informality would 
release me from the claims on Mr. St. John's debt, 
it was clearly evident, that the residence of the 
plaintiff in this state, before my obtaining the bene- 
fit of the act, would prove effectual. In respect 
to the balance due on my own note, the endorser 



23r 

of it* who had secured it by mortgage, was ready 
to testify to the facts that the plaintiff had not the 
least claim to it ; but had seized and carried it off 
contrary to his express prohibition, and when he 
even claimed and demanded it as his own pro- 
perty. 

Under these circumstances, my counsel put in a 
plea, before the court, to be heard on the merits of 
the causes. The counsel for the plaintiff objected 
to the plea, as the suits had before been defaulted 
for the want of special bail. The court overruled, 
that no plea on the merits could be admitted. 

I felt that this was a hard case. I then imme- 
diately resigned myself to the court to save my 
bail. 

Not three months had elapsed since I had re- 
signed up all my property of every description. I 
was indeed poor and penny less, and bleeding un- 
der the cruel sufferings of an inquisitorial sen- 
tence which had been passed upon me, not two 
weeks before, in Cornwall. I was now confined to 
the limits of the gaol, in consequence of the forge- 
ry of my name to a note of $1000, of which I had 
never received a single cent, and respecting the 
signature of which, I was as ignorant as an infant, 
until after I had been arrested on the note, for the 
purpose of securing the endorser. Not for any 
debt of my own, or as endorser for another, but by 
reason of the foul crime of forgery, which was 
permitted to go unpunished, I was subjected to 
imprisonment. My family was in another state, 
without funds, and no relatives in that region to 
contribute to their necessities. Added to this, the 
echo of slander was continually assailing me, as if 
teeming afresh, like iEtnean eruptions, from Corn- 
wall hollow. 

Between four and five weeks had passed away ? 
when I unexpectedly purchased my freedom from 
this cruel bondage, at an expense of five hun- 
dred dollars, in order that I might return to my 

21* 



238 

family, and procure for them the necessaries of life. 
By the assistance of friends I was aided in procu- 
ring funds to purchase my liberation, and am now 
laboriously employed to earn a little savings to 
meet this expense. 

As the witness, to whose testimony, with one of 
its appendages to which we have been attending, 
is bound, by the form of the oath prescribed in 
Connecticut, to " tell the truth, the whole truth, and 
nothing but the truth," will it be claimed, even by 
Iiis employer s t that they have just cause of boast- 
ing on account of any acquisition they may have 
derived from his testimony ? Yet I must ask the 
indulgence to exhibit one more trait of the incon- 
sistency of his own testimony. It will be clearly 
seen, that the charge preferred against me in rela- 
tion to him, which it is reasonable to suppose first 
originated in Mr, St. John, and also his testimony 
before the association, are evidently designed to 
create the impression, that I had deceived him, and 
consequently had acted the part of a dishonest 
man. Indeed, it has been rendered apparent, that 
he has diligently laboured, at " sundry times, and 
in divers manners," to induce this belief. What 
I propose is, merely to compare some of his decla- 
rations, at different periods, together, that it may 
be ascertained whether it is probable he would 
know what to believe of his own declarations. 

It will be seen, by recurring to Mr. Norton's affi~ 
davit, that Mr. St. John " had frequently declared 
in his hearing, that, had I tarried in Connecticut, 
and not moved out of the stare, I should have done 
well enough $ but because I had moved out of the 
state, I had wholly lost my character." Hence 
it would seem, that it was simply the act of moving 
out of the state, which had produced my loss of 
character, consequently had I not moved out, my 
character would have been good. In accordance 
with this is the following affidavit : 



239 

iC I, Elijah Merriam, of lawful age, depose and say, 
that on or about the 9th of September, 1817, in 
passing the dwelling house of Daniel St. John, Esq. 
I was called upon by the said St. John, in the road, 
and after some conversation which he introduced 
with considerable warmth, in relation to the Rev. 
Daniel Parker, evidently designed to produce a 
prejudice in my mind against Mr. Parker ; after 
I had opposed some of his invectives by replies, 
the said St. John declared, that Mr. Parker's char- 
acter was good, and would have remained so, if 
he had staid here ; but in going away, out of the 
state, he had lost his character. 

" ELIJAH MERRIAM." 

" Litchfield county, ss. Watertown, Dec. 30th, 
1817. Personally appeared, Elijah Merriam, who 
made solemn oath, that the facts stated in the fore- 
going deposition, by him subscribed, are just and 
true, before me, 

" John H» De Forest, Just. Peace.' 5 

How will his declarations to Messrs. Norton and 
Merriam, that my " character was good" (and it 
will be recollected, that he had been my near neigh- 
bour more than fourteen years, and had there been 
any deficiency in my moral character, he would 
have gladly seized upon it as a ground of charge, in 
his exertions to criminate,) " and would have re- 
mained so, had I not moved out of the state," be 
reconciled, with his testimony at Cornwall three 
weeks before? 

And why was my character lost by this removal, 
as he asserted, unless by his heinous slanders, in 
common with some others, respecting each of whom> 
the cause must now be clearly visible? Did I sus- 
tain this loss, by removing from the neighbourhood 
of a man of such a reputation as the preceding 
documents indicate that he merits ? If so, it sure- 
ly ought to be endured with fortitude* I willingly 



240 

Submit his inconsistencies to others to reconcile, as 
it transcends my abilities to harmonize them. 

In relation to their other important witness, viz. 
Mr. Swan, I would remark, that his exertions were 
vigorous and laborious* Why he should have 
discovered so great alarm, on account of my affi- 
davit relative to the " Lewis note," must be best 
known to himself. It will be remembered, that the 
affidavit of Mr. Sterling states the " agitation and 
rage" which he exhibited relative to my deposition, 
and that he signified that he would be revenged 
upon me for it. The repeated efforts of Mr. Swan, 
in representing to many individuals that my depo- 
sition was false, ought not to have passed unnoti- 
ced ; also the measures he had adopted, as well as 
the interest he had taken to procure Mr. Pullman's 
attendance, as a witness at Cornwall ; furthermore, 
his volunteering his attendance at the trial, and his 
readiness to tarry until the following day to accom- 
modate them, although his business was pressing 
at home ; likewise, his active exertions at the trial, 
evidently to procure a censure to be inflicted upon 
me, if we are permitted to form an accurate idea 
from the letter of the magistrate who qualified the 
witnesses at the time. He expressly states that 
" Mr. Swan testified nobly for himself, and at times 
assumed the attitude of attorney, advocate, wit- 
ness, and accuser, all in accordance with his own 
feelings" as he " presumed" to believe from what 
he exhibited. 

The affidavit of deacon Seymour and Mr. Nor- 
ton expressly states, that Mr. Swan appeared to 
" take a particularly active part against me at the 
trial, as attorney, advocate, witness, and accuser;" 
and also, that " he appeared to be earnest and bit- 
ter against me," and that " he did all in his power 
to criminate me." 

In relation to his testimony, the affidavits state, 
that " Mr. Swan testified that Mr. Parker had giv- 
en a false deposition, in relation to a note given to 



241 

the Bridgeport bank, signed by Wm. Lewis, Ira 
Swift, and others, in respect to the period of time 
for which the note was given. Swan declared that 
the said note was given on demand, and that all the 
notes given to the Bridgeport bank, at the time of 
Wm. Lewis, Ira Swift and others giving their said 
note, were given on demand. " 

By reexamining the copy of the "Lewis note," 
inserted in the 148th page, it will not be found to be 
on demand, as no time is specified. The same is 
asserted in the affidavit of Mr. Sterling. This 
will undoubtedly be considered, at least, to be a 
trivial offence. But if we pursue the subject fur- 
ther, we find that the affidavits of Dr. Calhoon and 
Mr. Lewis expressly assert, that their note was 
given for " one year, or twelve months" from date, 
and one confirms this fact in very strong terms. 
In addition tolhese, the certified copy of the bond 
of indemnity given to Mr. Swift, inserted in the 
158th page, not only confirms my affidavit to be 
correct, but also affords incontestible evidence, 
that the note which it describes, w T as made paya- 
ble " one year" from date. These documents ex- 
hibit complete contradictions to the testimony of 
Mr. Swan ; and I cannot possibly reconcile them. 

Again, the appendage in his testimony, that " all 
the notes given on the said 25th of Nov. 1814, to 
the Bridgeport bank, were given on demand" is 
totaly false. In confirmation of this assertion., 
I can produce two of the notes, at least, how many 
more I know not, which were given to the Bridge- 
port bank on the said 25th of Nov. 1814, and which 
were drawn " one year from date, value received* 
&c." Thus, these documents not only amply con- 
firm the correctness of my affidavit relative to the 
" Lewis note," but clearly prove the testimony of 
Mr. Swan before the association to be glaringly 
false. What then is the evident complexion of Mr. 
Swan's testimony, which he so cheerfully volun- 
teered to give. The reader will decide for himself, 



242 

We have then a few lineaments relative to th& 
testimony of the two important witnesses, improved 
by the association at their trial. Will not these 
data reasonably account for the declaration which 
Mr. St. John made, a few days before the trial of 
my petition at Litchfield, of which I have been cre- 
dibly informed, that" 1 must be barred out of the 
state ; if not, 1 should raise the d — — 1 with them." 
No doubt this expression of Mr. St. John was ex- 
pressive of his real desires, in view of the certain 
facts which he well knew I should be obliged to de« 
velope concerning him ; and tnerefore, whatever he 
eould do to vilify and traduce, as his only possible 
shield, " he would do quickly.' 9 

In view of these facts, could it be reasonably 
expected, that any body of people, or combination, 
would feel themselves honoured by such testimo- 
ny ? If so, it is presumed that no one, influenced by 
the principles of honesty, would possess the least 
desire to rob them of such an acquisition. But 
should it be claimed by any, that there was an ap- 
parent analogy existing between the testimony of 
these witnesses whom the association improved, 
and the object evidently designed, in order to the 
accomplishment of the " proscription," I shall 
desist from entering into any controversy with them, 
lest I should be incompetent to maintain a defence. 

In relation to their other testimony, I have very 
little knowledge, and if possible, less solicitude. I 
have been informed that the association appointed 
two of their members, viz. Messrs. Cowles and 
Prentice, to note down the testimony at, ov after 
their trial. Some time since I sent to their regis- 
ter for the purpose of obtaining a copy of it* The 
register gave information that it was still with the 
committee, as it had never been forwarded for re- 
cord. A person was then requested to call on 
Mr. Prentice, and endeavour to obtain a copy. The 
request was accordingly made to Mr. Prentice, 
who signified, at the time, as the information was 



243 

given me, that the papers were with Mr. CowIes 5 
for which reason he could not comply with the re- 
quest. A few days after, a gentleman called pur* 
posely on Mr. Cowles to obtain the document. 
Mr. Cowles informed him, that he had none of the 
papers in his possession, but had delivered them 
over to Mr. Prentice, six or seven months before. 
Thus I have been wholly deprived of an opportuni- 
ty of seeing any of their minutes of testimony* 



SECTION VI. 

The purchase of my liberation from imprison- 
ment, occasioned by the forged note, of which I 
have made mention, enabled me to return to Green- 
ville about the last of September, 1817. I soon 
consulted with the clergy, in that vicinity, relative 
to the most suitable method of procedure. The 
uniform advice given me, was, to petition the asso- 
ciation for a hearing, as I had never had any on my 
part; and also to request them to receive several 
very respectable ministers from this state, to sit 
and act with them on the trial. Should this re- 
quest be refused, I was advised then to call an ex 
parte council to assemble in Greenville, and notify, 
and desire the attendance of the association, or 
their committee, in an investigation. I according- 
ly pursued the advice which I had received, and 
addressed a letter to their last moderator, for the 
purpose of procuring a hearing, where I might give 
my attendance. The following is a copy of the 
letter : 

" Greenville, Nov. 24th, 1817. 
Rev. Sir, — Being informed you were the mode- 
rator of the last association ot Litchfield North, *t 



r244 

their semi-annual session, in September last, I take 
the liberty to address you, Sir, as the constitution- 
ally authorised organ, an a request of deep interest 
to myself, and, as I apprehend, to others, and 
which consequently devolves on you to communi- 
cate to your Rev. association. Feeling myself to 
be greatly injured by the proceedings and 'deci- 
sions of your association, at their extra session in 
Cornwall, on the second Tuesday of August last ; 
and wishing, as I ever have, for a fair and candid 
investigation of the proposed subjects of inquiry, 
in relation to myself, with which I have been pre- 
sented, and where I might be permitted to attend 
in person ; I have to request a rehearing of the in- 
stituted subjects of inquiry ; and therefore make 
the following request, viz. that your Rev. associa- 
tion would assemble at the town of Northeast, in 
this state, a place which 1 specified in a former 
communication, some time between this and the 
second week in January next, (Christmas week in 
the approaching December excepted,) and that you 
receive the following very worthy clergymen to sit 
and act with you in the rehearing, investigation 
and decision of the instituted inquiries, having 
equal powers and prerogatives with your own mem- 
bers, viz. Rev. David Porter, D. D. of Catskill., 
Rev. Henry B. Stimson, of Windham, and Rev. 
Gilbert R. Livingston, of Coxsackie, all ef Greene 
county. 

" Will you, Sir, have the goodness to call a meet- 
int of the association, of which you were the last 
moderator, immediately on the receipt of this re- 
quest, and communicate the same to that body ; 
and if my request is complied with, fix on a time 
to meet in the town of Northeast, near the Spencer 
place, so called, within the period of time stated 
above, (Christmas week excepted,) and immediate- 
ly communicate the result to me by letter, that I may 
have due time to notify the clergymen in this re- 
gion, whom I have already named, to unite with 



345 

you, and also to make preparation for the trial. If 
this request should not be acceded to by your as- 
sociation, will you do rae the favour 'to write to me 
immediately, on convening the association, that my 
request is rejected, before I must necessarily 
consume more time, or expense? in order to attend 
the proposed rehearing. 

Should I hear nothing from you, before the 20th 
or 25th of December next, I shall take it for grant- 
ed that my request is refused, and accordingly so 
consider it. I have before remarked, in my com- 
munications to your body, that I ask for nothing 
but the light of -truth, and a decision in accordance 
with it, unbiased by prejudice, or prepossession. 
Hence, I presume your body will consider this re- 
quest to be reasonable, and cheerfully yield their 
compliance. I desire you, therefore, Rev. Sir, to 
spare no time in communicating this request to the 
association, and returning me an answer. 

That you may be directed in the path of duty is 
the sincere desire of one who feels himself unjustly 
ctnsured, and who subscribes himself, yours, &c. 
" DANIEL PARKER. 

" Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, 

u Moderator of the last association 
" of Litchfield North." 

The following answer to my request was received 
about the first of January succeeding: 

" Canton, Dec. 12th, 1817. 
" Dear Sir, — I received your letter of Nov. 
24th, 1317. As the things it contains are serious, 
and interesting, especially to this association and 
yourself, I thought it best to lay it before the 
monthly meeting for their advice, which convened 
last Tuesday, Dec. 9th, at Torringford. The 
meeting was full, and appeared to give a serious at- 
tention to your letter. And seeing it would be im- 
possible, for want of time, to convene the associa 

22 



246 

lion, lay your letter before them, and then, if the 
association complied with it ; to meet at the place 
you named the second week in January next, the 
utmost period mentioned by you, sir, hence the 
monthly meeting thought it was not adviseable for 
the moderator t© call the association, as you pro- 
posed, 

*■' I do not see, therefore, for this, and other rea- 
sons, how your request can be complied with. 

" The association at Cornwall considered it ille- 
gal for them to meet to do business, as an asso- 
c^iwn, out of their limits, and especially out of 
the state. The association greatly regretted your 
absence at Cornwall. And I believe they would 
be ready to hear any communications from you, 
you would wish to make, yourself, at their meeting 
in June next, or at any other time. Such divi- 
sions and moral wounds are very grievous things, 
and how desirable if they might be healed accord- 
ing to the blessed gospel of the great Physician. 
" I am your real friend, 

"JEREMIAH HALLOCK. 

¥ Rev. Daniel Parker, 

« Greene Co. N. York." 

Here I am authoritatively informed, that the 
" association had considered it to be illegal for 
them to meet to do business, as an association, out 
of their limits, and especially out of the state." 
Truly extraordinary ! If the whole could not act 
legally out of the state, then could a part of the 
body, which is less than the whole, act legally, al- 
though they should pronounce the act to be done 
" in the name and acting in behalf of the associa- 
tion," as in the 123d page? Were they aware, 
when they framed this decision, that it was their 
own condemnation ? That it wholly precluded 
them from acting in my case, as I had never by their 
own decision, had any previous step taken with 
me, or bepn cited to attend their trial? Will they 



247 

claim to be men of information and piety, and stili 
expect to cover secret designs of artifice ? Surely, 
to those who are endowed with common sense and 
talents, the veil is too thinly spread to escape dev 
lection. If the powers of the body are lost by 
crossing the line, or exceeding their limits, it ne- 
cessarily follows, that the powers of an individual 
are lost in the same manner. Lie must, of course, 
cease to be a preacher of the gospel, while out of 
the state or out of their limits. How then can he 
officiate as a minister of the gospel when out of their 
limits? By what authority can he preach a lecture, 
or administer any ordinance of the gospel? How 
can missionaries be sent abroad, possessing the 
least possible powers of gospel ministers, when 
they must cease to act legally, the instant they 
cross the state line, or exceed the limits of the as- 
sociation ? How can the gospel be sent to the hea- 
then, or among the new settlements ? 

Again, what can this venerable man mean by 
such " divisions and moral wounds !" The insinua- 
tions are entirely unintelligible to me. What" di- 
visions ?" I know not. Can I have created any 
4i division" among them, unless it should be to ex- 
hibit a distinction " between the holy and the pro- 
fane, the clean and the unclean?" But what "mo- 
ral wounds?" Have they proved me guilty of the 
least immorality? If so, why have they not decla- 
red it ? Whom do they pronounce guilty ? Let the 
attested copy of their doings decide* 

Having received a refusal from the moderator to 
comply with my request, I then proceeded to call 
an ex parte council, to assemble at Greenville, on 
the 2Tth of January, for the purpose of investiga- 
ting their articles of charge. Sixteen or eighteen 
very respectable clergymen were desired to give 
their attendance. I also notified the last modera- 
tor of Litchfield North, duly to inform the body, 
that they might give their attendance, and support 
their charges with the proceedings which they had 
adopted. 



248 
The following is a copy of my notification, 

" Greenville, January 2d, 1818. 

" Ret. Sir. Yours of the 12th ultimo has come 
to hand. By it I learn that my request for a re 
hearing, k not complied with ; that the association 
at Cornwall, " considered it illegal for them to meet. 
to do busines as an association out of their limits^ 
and especially out of the state." 

I have, sir, in consequence of your non-compli- 
ance with my request, already issued notifications 
to assemble an ex parte council in, Greenville, on 
the 27th instant, to be in readiness to commence 
an investigation of the subjects of your inquiries 
or charges , &c * in relation to myself, on the 28th 
of inst. January, at 9 o'clock, A. M. 

This is, therefore, to inform you, as moderator 
of the last association of Litchfield North, and that 
you thus notify the members of the said associa- 
tion, to give your attendance at Greenville^before the 
said council, on the said 27th of January, to sup- 
port your said charges which you have instituted 
against me, and your proceedings thereon. It is 
presumed, on a subject of so great importance^ 
that your Rev. association will not fail to give their 
attendance. The council are expected to attend 
to the subjects of investigation^ at the meeting 
house, in said Greenville. That we may be di- 
rected by the Great Head of the church in the 
paths of truth and justice, is the sincere desire of, 
Rev. sir, yours, &p« 

« DANIEL PARKER. 

" Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, Moderator 

" of the last association of Litchfield 
li North, to be communicated. " 

The weather having been unfavourable at the 
time appointed for the ex parU council to assem- 
ble at Greenville, eight clergymen only, if my me- 
mory is correct ? gave their attendance. It * 



249 

been contemplated that the investigation would 
take place in the meeting house ; and many people 
assembled, even from neighbouring towns, to wit- 
ness it. .. The ministers who attended, on mature 
deliberation, refused to grant a public hearing, on 
the ground that they should, in (hat case, become 
the medium, in making public the extraordinary 
proceedings of the association. This considera- 
tion induced them to confine the hearing to closed 
doors. 

The association of Litchfield North was not re- 
presented, except by a letter from Mr. Beach, to 
the Rev. Mr. Hotchkin, received on the second 
day of the session, with directions to make such 
use of it as the case required. The letter was, by 
my request, as also at the suggestion of Mr. Hotch- 
kin, read before the meeting. 

The singular features which it discloses, in sari* 
ous respects, may render it suitable to make some 
extracts from it. It appears to me to be replete 
with slanders, and misrepresentations, together 
with solicitude and alarms. I propose to insert it 
in paragraphs, with some comments interspersed.. 

" Winchester, January 177/*, 1818. 

ff Rev. and dear Sik. Mr. Parker wrote 
some time since, to the moderator of our associa- 
tion, renewing the requests made at Cornwall, 1st. 
that the association would meet in the state af New- 
■ITork, to try his case anew; or 2dly. that they 
would delegate some of their own body to meet with 
some of the Presbytery, within the limits in which 
he lives." 

It is presumed that for the incorrectness of this 
statement, Mr. Beach would be desirous to avail 
himself of an apology, similar to that which he 
offered relative to his pledges made to me at 
Greenville, viz. thai he had forgotten the facts* 

And yet, it would seem, as he was the only or* 
gan of their body, at that rime, and was making ast 



250 



important communication to go before fhe public, 
that he ought to have regarded' the state of facts. 
The reader can easily revert to my communica* 
tions, all of which are inserted in the preceding 
pages, and satisfy himself whether the statement is 
correct* 

"The association decided^ as you remember, 
that they could not act as an association in any 
place without their limits, and especially in a state 
to which they do not belong. 55 

This is a remarkable confession, that all their 
proceedings had been illegal, and consequently 
criminal and slanderous in the extreme. And 
could they expect, with brazen impudence, to con- 
ceal it, by boldly adopting such an excuse, to bar 
me from a hearing and defence against their iniqui- 
tous attempts to condemn me unheard, without 
cause or notice, and even aided by their perjured 
testimony ? 

" Also that they were a body appointed by their 
own constitution, and also the constitution of the 
Congregational church in this state to try their 
own ministers; that they could not therefore 
shrink from the painful duty, and had no right to 
delegate their trust, especially to persons that did 
not belong to their body, highly soever as they 
might be esteemed and revered. 55 

Here is an apparent effort, similar to what is often 
discoverable in the spider, which, at the approach 
of danger, instantly seeks a shelter in its own 
web, spun from its own bowels, as if the slender 
fortification would afford a safe refuge! .Mr. 
Beach, having taken shelter under their cafes sal 
fortress, proceeds to observe " that they could not, 
therefore, shrink from the painful duty. 55 Is he 
willing to hazard this, as an honest assertion, in 
view of their groundless charges ; the instruments 
and manner of introducing them ; the objects for 
which they were exhibited; the time and place 
fixed upon for trial : their own declared '.illegality 



251 

in taking the steps, and citing me to attend ; 1m 
pledges made me at Greenville ; the measures pur- 
sued at the trial; their treatment of Mr. Hotchkin; 
their testimony, to aid them in their exertions ; and 
their difficulty in procuring the desired result? 
Having witnessed all these things, is not his au- 
dacity distinguishingly conspicuous in asserting, 
" that they could not, therefore, shrink from the 
painful duty?" Or, does he mean, that having be- 
gun, they could not " look back?" Or is pain used 
ironically for pleasure ? Is not his fortress, in reali- 
ty, more feieble than that of the spider? And are 
not the latent sources of human depravity clearly 
discoverable, in the objects which are obviously 
declared to exist? 

On what principles can he assert, " they had no 
right to delegate their trust .?" The northern asso- 
ciated Presbytery, to which he must allude in part, 
at least, are of the Congregational order, and the 
same body from whom I received my licence as a 
candidate for the gospel ministry. The Presbyte- 
rians are in connexion with the general assembly, 
which convenes annually at Philadelphia, the high- 
est ecclesiastical judicature in the United States, 
of which the general association of Connecticut 
constitutes apart; and their general association is 
composed of distinct associations. Hence, there 
is an intimate connexion in those bodies. What, 
then, can this expression imply ? He could not 
surely make this declaration on the principle that 
a delegation of trust was unprecedented, for this 
would contradict well known usages. Is it not evi- 
dently, therefore, a studied evasion, in order to be- 
wilder, or plausibly conceal from the observation 
of those, to whom it is addressed, their actual pro- 
ceedings and objects ? 

" On receiving information from our moderator, 
that it would be in vain for him to convoke the as- 
sociation lo deliberate on his requests, as they had 
already been formally acted on, Mr. Parker 






252 

w-rote to him a second time, stating that he had 
called an ex parte council, to meet in Greenville* 
to' try his cause, and calling on this association, to 
appear before said council, and show, cause for 
their procedure against him." 

It is here expressly asserted, that " it would be 
in vairi for the moderator to convoke the associa- 
tion to deliberate on his (my) requests, as they had, 
already, been formally acted on." Were not the 
body placed under some obligations to- Mr. Cowles, 
to give me a hearing? At the time they were ma- 
king exertions to procure a unanimous vote of cen- 
sure, and he requested to be released frem voting 
at all, as he could not unite with them in the yote, 
and they w T ould not consent that he should be re- 
leased, did he not finally unite in the vote for the 
sole object of leaving the subject open, for the. ex- 
press purpose of securing me a hearing ? I cheer- 
fully appeal to Mr. Cowles, whether this was not 
the leading motive, which influenced him to unite 
his vote with theirs. And yet, when I had made 
the request to the moderator for a hearing, he would 
not take the trouble even to convene the associa- 
tion, in order to lay my requests before them, as 
his own answer to me testifies. Here Mr. B. en^ 
trenches himself, and boldly urges the plea, that 
my " requests had already been formally acted 
on." When? At Cornwall ? Will not Mr. Cowles 
urge a counter claiui for a hearing, by the express 
conditions of his vote ? 

It is, indeed, granted that my requests at Corn- 
wall, " were formally acted on ;" and whether the 
acts reflect honour upon the agents, I cheerfully 
submit to others to decide ; at any rate, it does 
not reflect either honour or honesty on Mr. Beach, 
in connexion with his pledges rendered me at 
Greenville. Is it not singular then, that, under 
these circumstances, Mr. Beach should here un- 
blushingly urge that my " requests had already been 
formally acted on," as a justification on their part 



:>d3 

uot to give me a hearing? With (he utmost reason 
therefore, might he be greatly alarmed, when he 
makes use of the expression, that " Mr. Parker 
wrote to him (the moderator) a second lime, stating 
that he had called an ex parte council to meet in 
Greenville, to try his cause, and calling on this as- 
sociation, to appear before said council, and show 
cause for their procedure agafnst him." In what 
other manner could this last clause be divested of 
its terrors, unless the plea could be plausibly urged , 
that my " requests had been formally acted on,' v 
thus pleading, at least his own iniquity as an ex- 
cuse why they should not defend their proceed- 
ings. 

" This appears to me, very extraordinary, in* 
deed, very extraordinary, that he should call a 
council for such an object, to sit in judgment on a, 
cause which has already been tried, and solemnly 
decided by the only tribunal on earth, which has 
cognizance of it ; very extraordinary that he should 
in this may call on the association ; and it will ap- 
pear still more extraordinary, should the council, 
that is requested to assemble, presume to judge 
over this association." 

Here is truly a catalogue of extraordinaries ! 
not only extraordinaries in words, but in ideas! But 
can he be dispossessed of his burden by dealing out 
extraordinaries? It may be suitable to pay some 
attention to this sentence. 

" Very extraordinary that he should call a coun- 
cil for such an object." Is not fear, or surprize, 
evidently exhibited here, lest their steps should be 
retraced, and consequently their iniquities expo- 
sed T "For such an object." Surprize is here 
clearly discovered, as if the idea had not before 
been indulged, that others could possibly examine 
their proceedings. " To sit in judgment." Does 
he again tremble at the idea that judgment is to be* 
passed upon their proceedings ? No wonder, when 
fie had been an agent as well as witness to the ef- 



fects of " silting in judgment.'^ " On a case 
which had already been tried." How tried ? We 
have already seen. Will he call this trial? He 
has clearly mistaken the term. It had, no doubt, 
passed the ordeal of an Inquisition. Can it then 
be said with propriety, that it was tried? " And 
solemnly decided." Would a spectator of the 
scene have called it solemn, in any other sense, 
than as it would affect the perpetrators of the 
deed ? Will it be called solemn to compel persons 
to unite in a vote of censure, only as it respects the 
enormity of such heaven-daring offenders? No 
wonder the term, " extraordinary," should have 
been so frequently repeated. Would conduct of 
such a description, as has been narrated respecting 
that proceeding, have harmonized with a prayerful 
frame of heart ? Would it not have had the appear- 
ance of solemn mockery ? " By the only tribunal 
on earth which has cognizance of it." Then there 
is no appeal. This is, indeed, a hard case ; to be 
condemned in such a manner, and yet there can 
be no appeal. I had never before, however, knowij 
of a refusal to grant an appeal. In this case, rt 
would, no doubt, be attended with unpleasant con- 
sequences, especially to retrace their proceedings. 
The expression evidently implies, that no appeal 
could be expected. This would seem to be similar 
to burying one as dead, the instant he was knocked 
down, without waiting to see whether there were 
any signs of life remaining, or giving the least op- 
portunity for resuscitation. This would really ar- 
gue 9.- want of safety to the living, who belong to 
such a body. Although a person may be stunned, 
for a moment, by a blow, yet he may experience no 
particular inconvenience from it, except for the 
moment. 

" Very extraordinary that he should in this way 
call on the association." Here alarm is again re- 
newed, as if danger was drawing very near. " In 
this way call on the association." No, (would 



2^, 

seem to be the language,) it must not be done, lest 
it should ruin us forever to retrace our meanderings 
and decisions. " And it will be still more extraor- 
dinary, should (he pouncil, that is requested to as- 
semble, presume to judge over this association.' 5 
" Lots" of alarms! Does Mr. Beach ^ not know, 
that the saints will judge the worlds" And that 
" every work will be brought into judgment, with 
every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether 
it be evil?" 

" No such thing, however, is expected. The 
forms of ecclesiastical procedure are, if possible, 
more definite in the Presbyterian, than in the Con- 
gregational church ; and it is not in the least appre- 
hended, that a step will be taken by any of the 
members of your Presbytery, inconsistent with the 
rules and the relations of the two churches. Ac- 
cording to the platform of the church in this state, 
the decisions of the general association, and the 
rules of our association, the decision, which has 
been had in Mr. Parker's case, is final ." 

" No such thing is expected." Some may, pos- 
possibly, doubt, whether sincerity is expressed in 
this sentence. Indeed, if it is, why did he write 
this letter, and subject himself to the inconvenience 
of stating untruths and slanders ? That the forms 
3re in reality, more definite in the Presbyterian, 
than in the Congregational church, is, I think, 
greatly to be prised. For these forms secure the 
privilege of being heard, and the right of appeal. 
Nor do they admit of altering constitutions by a 
verbal motion from the impulse of the moment in 
order to accomplish any favourite designs. They 
prohibit the accomplishment of a " proscription," 
by securing the right of being tried by others, than 
the personally hostile or guilty, who are seeking to 
escape detection and punishment by their strenuous 
efforts and success in vilifying and criminating the 
innocent. 



256 



This paragraph closes, by announcing, that the 
decision, in my case, by their " platform," &c. &c* 
** is final.' J It has since proved so, notwithstand- 
ing all the efforts which have been made to obtain 
a hearing, although insinuations have been given, 
to induce the belief that I should be indulged 
with it. 

" Though this association has decided against 
the conduct of Mr. Parker as immoral, and laid 
him under censure, believing that what they 
have "bound" in this case " is bound in Heaven ;" 
they are ready to " loose," and this would be done 
with satisfaction, not less than the pain they expe- 
rienced in censuring, should Mr. Parker appear as 
sensible of the things of which he is convicted/' 

This is a remarkable paragraph. If the attested 
copy of the register is true, it contains glaring false- 
hoods ; and it appears to me that it does, if the at- 
tested copy is not true. It is also slanderous in 
the extreme, and, I apprehend, is fraught with 
gross impiety and solemn mockery. 

Mr. Beach says, " the asssociation decided 
against the conduct of Mr. Parker as immoral" 
I believe this is entirely false. Their attested co- 
py, sent to me, states no such thing. What immo- 
rality T I defy them to produce it. Why then 
does he use this vile slander and foul untruth ? He 
further adds, "should Mr. Parker appear as sen- 
sible of the things of which he is convicted." Mr* 
Parker was not convicted^ even with their perjured 
testimony," and it was so declared by one of their 
number, when they were laboriously employed te 
procure their unanimous vote of censure. What 
criminal baseness ! Indeed, this last sentence would 
seem to imply a desire on the part of Mr. Beach, 
that I would consent to some, if not all their char- 
ges, as true, which, however, are known, and have 
been proved to be false. This would be no more, 
nor less* than what he has before frowned upon me 



25r 

i 

for not doing. The plain inference then is, that 
Mr. Beach would be gratified to have me guilty 
of falsehood, by acknowledging as true, that which 
has been proved to be untrue. Should he, in this 
case, " loose," as he has used the term, in whose 
service would he be employed ? It would seem, not 
in the service of an honourable master. But is it 
not solemn mockery for him to adopt the expres- 
sion, " believing" that what they had " bound" in 
this case is " bound in heaven?" Do we not read 
that heaven is a pure and holy place ; that nothing 
which is filthy or impure, " which workelh abomina- 
tion, or maketh a lie" can be admitted into that ho- 
ly place ? Is it reasonable then to suppose that such 
a series of wickedness, embracing false charges, 
perjuries, slanders, combinations, and many other 
kinds of wickedness, could ascend as incense, and 
" be bound in heaven ?" It really appears to me 
to be a horrid profanation. The guilt, however, of 
such a series of iniquity I fully believe is " bound," 
and I could sincerely wish it might be " loosed" 
by a cordial repentance and reformation. 

" There is one thing of which you had not pro- 
bably a full view in your attendance at Cornwall. 
I allude to Mr. Parker's use of a certificate of good 
standing, which had been recalled." 

It is very true that Mr. Hotchkin had not. a. full 
view of it at Cornwall ; but I trust he has had 
since, and that it will be to the " shame and confu- 
sion" of those who have introduced this subject, 
and acted upon it. Falsehood and slander are pe- 
culiarly combined in this particular, and also a fla- 
grant violation of the rules of the gospel. Yet Mr. 
Beach has seen fit to introduce this into his letter, 
apparently desirous to spread their slanders still 
more extensively, as if he were making sin an ex- 
cuse for sin. To render this plausible, he adverts 
1o the paper which I gave to the association, at the 
trial in Ellsworth, in July, 1815, of which I have 
given the purport in the 91st page* He has in his 

23 



25S 

letter been pleased to call it a confession, a term 
which I had never known, or thought of applying 
to- it, until he had affixed the epithet in his letter* 
He then proceeds to state: " After his standing 
became as appears by the confession Mr. Mills 
i^ery properly informed him, that be must return, 
or forbear the use of the certificate he had receiv- 
ed, and sent him one certifying what his true stand* 
ingwas. (It is inserted in the 99th page.) Mr. 
Parker remonstrated by letter, but without effects 
Whether he has, after this, used a certificate of goo<J 
standing in the ministry, you, and the brethren of 
your presbytery doubtless know* The thing needs 
no comment." 

It truly " needs no comment," to see that Mr. 
Beach is guilty of great wickedness on this rsubj-ect*. 
The presbytery do know, of a truth, that I have 
used a certificate of good standing in the ministry, 
and they also know that I had never received any 
other. But why should Mr. Beach have resorted 
to the paper, which he is pleased to call a confes- 
sion, as the ground why Mr. Mills wrote the letter 
laying an " embargo" on the first certificate ? This 
vile insinuation is amply confuted by the very let- 
ter of Mr. Mills, the accompanying certificate, and 
his verbal declarations, which have already beea 
noticed. Are not these things wonderful in a pro- 
fessedly honest man ? as also his liberal exertions to 
excite unfounded prejudices in the minds of others 
by slanders and falsehoods, apparently foi^the plea- 
sure of endeavouring to destroy ? Surely the cup 
of iniquity is full J 

" 1 suppose, dear sir, that you now possess a com- 
petent view of Mr. Parker's situation." (Yes, he 
undoubtedly does ; and looks with pity on the ra- 
pacious harpies, who have sought to pollute and de- 
Btroy .) " Do any of the brethren in your vicinity, 
or elswhere, wish to examine the subject for their 
pwn satisfaction, they can have free access to the 
testimony given at Cornwall before the association, 



259 

berth for and against him, 'a summary of which the 
association appointed a committee to preserve." 

I should apprehend that disinterested brethren 
could not derive any great satisfaction from an ex- 
amination of the facts. And if fhey can have ac- 
.C€ss to the testimony, they will be more successful 
than others have been, in going to different towns to 
find if, unless Mr. Prentice should prove more ac- 
commodating than heretofore. Nor can I imagine, 
if they should succeed in obtaining it, how they 
can find the testimony " both for and against me," 
if we may be allowed to credit the documents which 
have been already exhibited. In view of these 
things, I am constrained to disbelieve the correct- 
ness of the preceding declarations, and I do think 
that Mr. Beach would also be obliged to conform 
to the same sentiment. 

" I conclude your respect for the common cause, 
will prevent your suffering any council near you 
to proceed ignorantly on this subject. Make such, 
use of this communication as the case requires. I 
have no solicitude respecting this association, nor 
do I fear that any council which ?Mr. Parker may 
call, will proceed irregularly. The singularity of 
an ex parte council, presuming to try a cause which 
has regularly been decided by an organized body ? 
which alone has cognizance of it, is too palpable to 
be even thought of; but if I know my own heart, I 
have anxiety for Mr. Parker. There is a way for 
him to be reconciled, and regain his christian and 
ministerial standing, but I fear he is not in it. 
" Yours with great esteem and respect, 

" JAMES BEACH." 

"Rev. Beriah Hotchkin." 

It would be cruel for any council to proceed ig- 
norantly on this subject, and indeed criminal, if the 
means of knowledge could be obtained. I trust 
they are obtained. The indulgence given to make 
such use of Mr. Beach's letter, as the case re- 



260 

quires, I am persuaded, will be against him. Nor 
am I probably alone in my opinion. That he should 
have no " solicitude for the association," evidently 
discovers, that he had not " cast out the beam out 
^>f his own eye." Had this been done, he might 
have been able to discover in reality, whether 
there " was a mote in his brother's eye." Had the 
" beam" been removed, probably the " singularity 
6fan ex parte trial" would not have appeared so 
alarming or novel; consequently the decision of 
an " organized body" would have been superseded,, 
4Yom a clear conviction, that the charges were the 
mere fabrications of the guilty to escape detec- 
tion. That he should have had anxiety for me* 
would be reasonably expected, from the full survey 
which he had of the whole proceedings, and the 
cruelty which had been inflicted ; and which would 
have been withheld had he fulfilled his pledges* 
And had he even then possessed the " compas- 
sion" of the " good Samaritan," he would not have 
" passed by on the other side" like the " priest and 
Levite ;" but would have deemed it his duty to 
have " bound up my wounds." Could his "anxie- 
ty," under these circumstances, have been of the 
compassionate kind? If not, would it not seem to 
involve the guilty fear of detection? 

Mr. Beach asserts that there was a way for me 
to become "reconciled," and to " regain my chris- 
tian and ministerial standing." If this standing 
could, in his view, be regained, it would seem to im- 
ply that my criminality had not been very fla- 
grant. As he has preceded this with the word 
" reconciled," the difficulty is no doubt easily solv- 
ed. I know not to what this " reconciliation" could 
refer, unless to those members of the body against 
whom I had commenced a labour for unchristian 
conduct, who were still in continued alarms, lest I 
should renew the complaints against them, and de- 
tect their iniquity. Is not the meaning then clear- 
ly evident that, bad I consented to become "re- 



261 

conciled" to their iniquities, and to let them pass 
with impunity, my " christian and ministerial stand* 
ing would be regained V 9 

In fine, the foregoing letter of Mr. Beach is a pe- 
culiar production. He does not claim that he 
wrote by direction, or appointment. Had this, 
however, been the case, it might have been impro- 
per. For had he written by appointment, the com- 
munication would have involved the whole body in 
the various acts of turpitude, with which he now 
stands justly chargeable by this letter. Whether, 
therefore, we consider the substance, time, manner, 
and evident objects, if we are permitted to judge 
from appearances exhibited by the communication, 
to say the least, I am compelled to form a very un- 
favourable opinion of the author, and must consider 
it as one of the last struggles to maintain the preme- 
ditated a proscription." 

Two days were faithfully devoted, by the cler- 
gymen who assembled at Greenville, to an investi- 
gation of the subjects for which they had been con- 
vened. Having examined the documents which 
were exhibited before them, they immediately pro- 
ceeded to draw up an address to forward to the as- 
sociation, suggesting, in a modest manner, a few rea- 
sons, which they believed would influence that bo- 
dy to grant me a reasonable opportunity to be heard 
in my defence. They were unwilling to indulge an 
idea, that the association would refuse to grant me 
a fair hearing, when they should resurvey their pro- 
ceedings, and reflect upon their obligations of du- 
ty. Being confident their request would be grant- 
ed, they desired me to withhold, for a time, a pub- 
lication of their arbitrary and unprecedented pro- 
ceedings, for which I had already commenced pre 
paratfons. I consented to a compliance with their 
request, and their communication was soon forward 
ed. The following is a transcript. 

23* 



262 

u To the North Association of the county of Litch- 
field, (Connecticut.) 

" We, the undersigned, having convened as an ec- 
clesiastical council at the request of Mr. Daniel 
Parker, to attend to certain alleged grievances, re- 
sulting from his deposition by your body, at Corn- 
wall, in August last, deem it our incumbent duty 
to lay before you, with all due deference and res* 
pect, both the reasons of our compliance with Mr. 
Parker's request, and of the conclusion to which 
we have been unanimously and deliberately led, in 
view of the whole subject. v 

" You cannot, we consider, beloved brethren, b^ 
insensible of the peculiarly trying and delicate sit- 
uation in which we found ourselves to be, on the 
receipt of the letters inviting us to meet as an ex 
parte council, ta consider a case, which had been 
prejudged and decided by your venerable body, 
and which had caused no little excitement in the 
public mind. 

" We hope to be particularly understood, in what 
we lay before you in this communication, that we 
are, as far as we know ourselves, by no means dis- 
posed to impeach your motives, or refuse that de- 
ference to your judgment and wisdom, which we 
should feel ourselves bound to any body of minis- 
ters within the circle of our knowledge. We 
would notify you expressly, that we have been x 
peculiarly guarded against the least semblance of 
interference with your result, in the case of Mr, 
Parker* 

" We are convinced, that you are under far supe- 
rior advantages to be acquainted with the facts, 
and the various bearings and circumstances which 
have led to your decision, than we can possibly 
be, at so great a distance from the scene in which 
the difficulties had arisen and the transactions ta- 
ken place, 



263 

" We would also inform you, and we trust we ex- 
press it in the fear of God, and the integrity of our 
heart, that during our whole session, we have been 
actuated by tender and brotherly feelings towards 
you, and been especially watchful against saying 
or doing any thing, from which it might be infer- 
red that we do not love and respect you, with the 
same fraternal affection as we do one another. 
We feel ourselves to be fellow labourers wilh you 
in the vineyard of the same common Lord, and to 
be united with you in the same mind and in the 
same judgment in our views both of doctrinal and 
experimental religion. Any insinuations, therefore, 
tending to your injury, we feel as though aimed 
at ourselves. And to avoid the possibility of do* 
ing any thing that might have the least bearing to 
your prejudice, our meeting has been held with 
closed doors, to the disappointment of the expecta- 
tions of many, none being present but the mem- 
bers of the council and Mr. Parker. W e break 
up and separate with confidence in you, and res- 
pect for you as beloved brethren in the ministry, 
and workers together with us in rearing up the 
spiritual temple of our Lord. And most certainly, 
we have been happy, and felt ourselves honored 
that we might calhyou brethren, and that you have 
reciprocated us, with the right hand of fellowship 
in the holy ministry- 

"Do not, dear brethren, mistrust, nor think we de- 
viate from what we feel when we tell you, that res- 
pect and love for you has had as powerful an in- 
fluence to induce us to sit in this council, as any 
other consideration whatever. It had become a 
matter of no little grief to us to be compelled to 
fear, that your name, which is precious to us, was 
suffering in some degree in this region of country, 
in consequence of your deposition of Mr. Parker, 
at the time, and under the circumstances in which 
the event took place, 



264 

# And here brethren you will permit us, with that 
modesty which certainly becomes us on this occa- 
sion, to inquire, whether your decision in the case 
of Mr. P. would not have come with more weight* 
and had a better effect, especially at a distance, 
provided he had been present, and thus enjoyed 
the opportunity of employing every argument and 
circumstance, which might have had a tendency to 
exculpate himself, or operate in his favor? Is 
not this a ruling principle in all judicial proceed- 
ings and criminal prosecutions, that the repellant 
be not fettered, or in any way hindered from jus- 
tifying himself however dark and desperate his 
case may appear to the public mind, by availing 
himself of all those circumstances and pleadings, 
which may have the effect of removing the accu- 
sations alleged against him ? Is not this a char- 
tered privilege, and to be held most sacred ? And 
besides, brethren, though we are confident you are 
no strangers to that charity which (hinketh no evil, 
you will permit us to ask, whether it be not incum- 
bent on us in all cases, to lay the most favorable 
constructions upon the characters and conduct of 
our fellow men, and especially of those who sus- 
tain the same office with ourselves in the ministry? 
Ought it not always to be a ruling principle to pro- 
tect and save a brother from scandal, in every in- 
stance in which it can be done, consistently with 
righteousness, and supreme regard to the honour 
and glory of God ? And even now, as circumstan- 
ces are with Mr. Parker, it is our deliberate opin- 
ion that he is entitled to a rehearing before your 
body, and that your body will have reason to be 
better satisfied with itself after granting him a re- 
hearing, then to let the matter remain in its present 
state. 

" From all we can learn of your feelings on this 
subject, we are confident you are disposed to grant 
Mr. P« this privilege ; but we fear that unless you 
should procure for him a safe conduct, or appoint a 



26a 

place of hearing on this side of the state line, it will 
answer no good purpose to consent to a new trial. 
We would not presume to say, that the association 
did not think they acted correctly in refusing to 
cross the state line, but we do indulge the confident 
hope, that when they come to reconsider the mat- 
ter, they will yet consent to do it. Suffer us, as 
brethren, who do not presume to arraign your de* 
cisions, to offer some reasons which have struck 
our minds in favour of your consenting to this pro- 
posal, which was made to you by Mr. Parker at the 
time of the meeting at Cornwall. And on such a 
question as this (though not on the merits of the 
charges against Mr. P.) we think we are in a situa- 
tion to give our friendly advice. 

" 1. We cannot believe that there would be any 
illegality in the proceeding, if your body were to 
come into the state of New-York to attend to the 
trial of Mr. P. for you go out of your county to do 
business. If a minister in this state belonged to 
your body, you could not doubt the legality of your 
proceedings because you should sit at his house— 
and besides, you send your ministers into another 
state to take the first and second steps, (as was the 
case with Mr. P.) Would it, then, be any more il- 
legal for the association to cross the line, to take 
the last step of discipline ? 

"For ourselves, we are ignorant that any necessity 
can exist in this country, for an ecclesiastical body 
to know with precision where the county or state 
lines are, in order to render their doings of validity. 
"2. The embarrassed state of Mr. Parker presents 
another reason to induce your body to cross the 
line. 

" Without determining any thing about his inno* 
cence or criminality in becoming involved in pecu- 
niary difficulties, the embarrassment, it is granted, 
is now real and not pretended ; we think, therefore, 
it would appear to be no unsuitable condescension 
in his brethren, so far to accommodate themselves 



266 

to his .present circumstances, as to consent to come 
into a place where he can meet them in safety. 

"A third reason we -would suggest is, that Divine 
Providence has located your members so near the 
line, that it would be attended with little trouble 
to comply with the request. 

"But we forbear to urge other reasons for a rehear- 
ing, being persuaded that you will do what the inte- 
rest of religion shall require, and we trust that you 
will consider our communication as the dictate of 
brotherly love and tender concern for the common 
cause, and not as an officious meddling with things 
that do not belong to us. Praying that the great 
Head of the church may lead you to act as becom- 
eth the gospel, we subscribe ourselves your breth- 
ren in the christian ministry. 

" Signed in the behalf of a number of ministers of 
the northern associated presbytery, the Presbyte- 
rian and Reformed Dutch churches. 

" DAVID PORTER, Moderator, 

" Gilbert R. Livingston, Clerk* 
" Greenville, Jan. 1818." 

Weeks and months passed away without receiv- 
ing any intelligence from the association relative to 
the foregoing communication. In the month of May 
last I was verbally informed, that the communica- 
tion was presented before the association, at an er- 
tlination in Salisbury the March preceding, by the 
Rev. Mr. HaJlock, to whom it was directed as the 
last moderator. The consociation were together, 
whew Mr. Hallock gave notice, that he had in his 
possession the communication, and proposed to 
have it read before them. Mr. Stone immediately 
objected, saying, as I was informed, " that it would 
be improper for the delegates from the churches to 
hear it." The delegates accordingly withdrew, 
and it was read before the association. Immedi : 
ately subsequent to the reading of it, the associa- 
tion left their room. One of the delegates soon 



267 

called on Mr. Hallock, and inquired of him whether 
the comumnication did not relate to ray case ? He 
answered in the- affirmative. He was then inquired 
of- whether the association were about to do any 
thing for me? Mr. Hallock replied^ as I understood, 
in these words: " York state seems disposed to 
have Mr. Parker, and they must make the most of 
hhn." 

On receiving this information, it appeared evi- 
dent there was to be no opportunity given me to be 
heard in my defence, as the association had availed 
themselves of the excuse, " that they could not act 
as a body out of their own limits, and especially 
out of the state," and they well knew I could not 
go into that state to attend a trial. This was evi- 
dently their strong fortress, on which they placed 
their reliance. 

Under these circumstances I drew up a petition 
and 1 sent on to the legislature of Connecticut, in 
their May session, requesting a resolution to be pas* 
sed, granting me a protection to go into that state, 
for the purpose of obtaining a hearing and defence. 
I was afterwards informed that my petition passed 
the house of assembly, but by singular artifice and 
management, it was negatived in the senate. Mr. 
St. John, who had moved to Hartford but a few 
days previous to the hearing of my petition, might 
doubtless give ample information on this subject, 
and no doubt realized the same fears which he had 
before expressed, if I were not " barred out of the 
state." 

In the month of June, the following answer to 
the communication of Doctor Porter and others 
was received. 

" South Canaan, June 10th, 1818. 
" To the Rev. David Porter, D. D. and Rev. Gil- 
bert R. Livingston. 

" Rev. and dear brethren. 

44 By vote of the north association of the 
county of Litchfield^ we transmit to you the doings 



268 

of said association in reference to your late commu- 
nication. 

" At a session of the north association of Litch- 
field county, holden at South Canaan, June 9tb, 
1818. The association acknowledge the receipt of 
a communication made to their moderator to be laid 
before them from the Rev. David Porter, D. D. and 
Gilbert R. Livingston, respecting the situation of 
Mr. Daniel Parker, in relation to his late trial be- 
fore this body. 

" Resolved that we receive the aforesaid com- 
munication as expressive of that brotherly affection 
and confidence, which we earnestly desire might 
prevail among the ministers of Christ, and which 
we most cordially reciprocate. 

" Resolved that this association never consider- 
ed Mr. Parker as excluded by any act of theirs from 
defending himself before them— that they did not 
at the time they acted on his case suppose that 
they precjuded his liberty of appearing before them, 
at any after period, to show ,cause, if any he have, 
why their proceedure should be reversed — and that 
they are now ready to fix a time and place to hear 
him, should he request it. 

" JONATHAN MILLER, Moderator. 

" A true copy from the minutes of the associa- 
tion. 

" Citrus Yale, Scribe." 

I must be allowed to harmonize in the declaration 
of two of the members of that body, who were pre- 
sent when the answer was framed, that fay, " we 
feel ashamed and grieved with the answer to Doc- 
tor Porter's truly kind and brotherly letter/' Nor 
can the least doubt be entertained of the propriety 
of the protest, made by one of their number, when 
the answer was adopted, viz. " that it was evasive,, 
untrue, and unchristian" And yet, if we consi- 
der this production as a vindication and shield to 
their proceedings, could it have been more appro- 



269 

priately drafted ? But could that body deliberate* 
ly, and in view of the gross enormities which had 
been perpetrated by their proceedings, of which 
some of their number had complete knowledge, be 
willing to treat those Rev. gentlemen, to whom 
their answer was returned in so unbecoming a man- 
aier, and still call them brethren, and profess cor- 
dially to " reciprocate" their feelings and confi- 
dence ? Do they mean to insult their understand- 
ings, when they evasively declare, they " never 
considered Mr. Parker as excluded, by any act of 
theirs, from defending himself before them ?" What 
intrenchments do they here find for a shelter from 
deserved opprobrium ? 

What can be the meaning of the next sentence, 
" that they did not, at the time they acted upon 
his case, suppose that they precluded his liberty of 
rehearing before them at any after period, &c." 
when there is abundant testimony, that they were 
4 'atthe time requested to adjourn even to meet in 
the same place, which had they done only for one 
week, I could have obtained a protection and given 
my attendance, but they refused to comply with my 
request. Having refused my request, with the cer- 
tain knowledge that 1 could have given my atten- 
dance, will they still say, "they did not suppose 
they precluded my liberty of appearing before them 
at any future period ? Does this appear to be sim- 
ply " evasion ?" Then to complete the climax, do 
they say that " they are now ready to fix a time and 
place to hear him, should he request it V Had I 
not requested it, and been refused ? And had not 
others made the request for me, which request they 
were then attempting to answer ? This is too much ! 
What child would not clearly understand it ! What 
then must be the sensations of those Rev. divines* 
for whom this answer was framed, on perusing it ! 

Soon after the receipt of the foregoing answer, a 
conversation took place between two individuals, of 
whom one was a member of the association when thg 

24 



answer was framed. The inquiry was made, wb> 
the association did not answer the communication 
of Doctor Porter and others, when it was presented 
before them at Salisbury, in March ? This question 
did not receive any direct answer. The inquiry 
was then made, why the association did not give an 
answer, when they met in Cornwall the first week 
in May ? It was replied, the subject was not then 
introduced. It was then inquired, why the associat- 
ion took up the subject at their semi-annual meet- 
ing in June ? The answer was, that information was 
then obtained, that the petition which I had sent on 
to the legislature of Connecticut the preceding 
month, had passed the house of assembly, but was 
negatived in the senate ; of course it was thought to 
be a very convenient time to give an answer. It 
was stated, that a committee was appointed to frame 
an answer. When the report of the committee 
was read before the body, one of the members en- 
tered his protest against it, declaring it to be eva- 
sive, untrue, and unchristian. Some of the zea- 
lous partizans immediately attacked this member 
with engagedness, and he was compelled to desist, 
as the expression was used, "to save his distance. " 

These active partisans were the same who had 
rendered themselves conspicuous on former occa- 
sions ; and two or three of them were appointed on 
the committee to report an answer. Thus their 
audacity and threats, which long experience must 
have rendered familiar, as they had proved success- 
ful, enabled them to quell all opposition to the ac- 
complishment of their disgrace and infamy. 

It ought not to be omitted, that a very officious 
minister, who was not a member of that body, was 
present, who appeared to take no small interest hi 
the proceedings. He had been nominated as one 
of their committee, already mentioned, but it was 
afterwards suggested by one of their members, that 
it was unsuitable to appoint any one who was not a 
member of their body, to act m the capacity .of a 



2H 

committee, and he did not receive the appoint 
iuent. 

Solicitude was at this time manifested, on the 
ground that their proceedings were disclosed by 
some of their members, from time to time, other- 
wise I could not have obtained the knowledge of 
their doings. This appeared to be an alarming 
consideration, and it seemed to be enjoined upon 
the members, by their visiting brother, that more 
caution must be exercised on this subject. 

Some strictures were made in relation to the ex 
parte council which had met in Greenville, whose 
communication they then attempted to answer ; and 
a few remarks were made relative to some of the 
members who had composed that council. The 
moderator of that board had been called upon pre 
viously to this, once or more, by clerical authority 
from Connecticut, and questioned on the subject of 
his consenting to attend on such an occasion. The 
officious clergyman, of whom mention has been 
made, with his wonted self-importance, remarked, 
" he wished he could see this moderator ; he was not 
afraid io tell him his mind, and he would talk plain- 
ly with him." Thus a scene was exhibited no less 
singular, than the production which was nourished, 
and sent out into the world. 

Not long after, Mr. Beecher, in conversation 
with a very respectable layman, as I have received 
the information, expressed his gratification at the 
answer to the communication from Dr. Porter and 
others, intimating that he thought it was " cunning 
and proper," and that " they had done well." 
. As the preceding answer was deferred, until the 
week before the meeting of the general association 
of Connecticut, and would not, in all probability, 
reach me until the session of that body would be 
passed, so that no agent could be sent to lay the 
subject before them, although that body had no 
controlling power over district associations, yet a 
more favourable time could not have been selected 



2P2 

Co give their answer, for the purpose ©f concealing 
their conduct, probably, from public notice, for an- 
other year. 

Under these circumstances, every avenue being 
carefully guarded to prevent me from an opportu- 
nity of being heard in my defence ; as the last re- 
port, I sent on to the superior court, at their Au- 
gust session in Litchfield, to endeavour to procure 
a protection, which might secure my attendance be- 
fore the association, within their limits,. th^t I might 
obtain a hearing. This was pronounced to be im- 
practicable. Thus, as if church and state were 
combined to bar their doors against me, on no con- 
ditions could I be privileged with an opportunity of 
vindicating myself against vile aspersions and slan- 
ders. 

At the meeting of the northern associated pres* 
bytery, in October last, I sent on to that body the 
answer of the association to the communication 
which had been made, for their advice and direc- 
tion. It was considered to imply what had already 
been declared by one of its members ; yet as the 
association had stated that " they were ready to fix 
a time and place, should I require it," it was 
thought advisable that I should make one more re- 
quest of them to be heard* where I might attend, 
that they should not be able to avail themselves afc 
terwards with the evasion, that I had not made the 
request, after their specious lure had been tender- 
ed. Should they again refuse my request, I ought 
not any longer to be withheld from a publication of 
the facts. Accordingly I wrote once more to the 
last moderator of that body, requesting a hearing. 
The following is a copy of my communication. 

" City of Hudson, Oct. 15th, 1818. 

u Rev. Sir, — Being informed you were the last 

nioderator of the association of Litchfield Norths 

I take the liberty to address you, as the proper 

organ of communication to your Rev. body, proba^ 



2rs 

hlv for the last time in this way, and also on the 
unpleasant subject, which has heretofore been the 
theme of repeated communications. 

" I presume with some, little has been realized, 
or perhaps very imperfect ideas have been enter- 
tained, of the real state of facts which have trans^ 
pired within a few years past; while doubtless 
with others, it may have been presumed, that one 
who had been pronounced dead, could never rise 
to vindicate his injured rights, or bring the real 
offenders to justice. A short period will, I trust, 
life and health permitting, clearly develope to the 
public an authentic narrative of the nature of the 
subject, with the extraordinary measures with 
which it has been conducted from the beginning; 
and accompanied with documents and affidavits in- 
controvertible, I presume,, in the public estimation, 
to substantiate the facts. • 

" And if justice cannot be obtained in this world, 
I firmly believe the judgment day will redress our 
wrongs, and clearly exhibit the light of truth* 
Yet I feel it to be proper to make this last effort, 
that you cannot plead hereafter, that you were un- 
apprized of some few facts, at least, as they will be 
found to exist, and also of the certainty that they 
will be withheld bat a few days more from public 
inspection. Nor do I entertain the least doubt, 
were a true picture of the facts faithfully delinea- 
ted before you, thai you would be constrained to 
declare, that my forbearance until this time to 
publish to the world a faithful narrative of past 
transactions, clearly evinced a tenderness and kind- 
ness on my part for you, far beyond what perhaps 
you have exercised towards yourselves. 

" Your answer to the communication of the Rev, 
Doct. Porter and others, has been received. If it 
i]3 thought to be singular, and even extraordinary 
by any in this region, I presume it will be acknow- 
ledged, it was even so considered, at the time it 
ifcas drafted by your committee, and presented Jbe- - 

24*" 



2T4 



tore the body for approbation. I would ask wheth- 
er there was not a remonstrance made by even one 
of your committee at that time ? and whether he 
did not declare before the association, when the an- 
swer was presented by your committee, who had 
been appointed to draft it, " that it was evasive, un- 
true, and unchristian ?" And was not this member 
at once opposed by two, or three of the other itiem^ 
feers ? The answer closes in these words : " and 
that they are now ready to fix a time and place to 
tear him, should he request it." Had I not be- 
fore made the request, and it was refused? And 
did not the communication of Doctor Porter and 
others make the request ? Perhaps the reply might 
be as before, we will meet you in Connecticut, 
where we know you cannot come ; but we cannot 
go out of the state, because in the language of 
your late moderator, in a letter to me, he declares, 
** your request cannot be complied with. The as- 
sociation at Cornwall considered it illegal for them 
to meet to do business, as an association, out of 
their limits, and especially out of the state." I 
ask, is a part greater than the whole ? This is ex- 
pressly denied in mathematical problems. Then 
if a part is not greater than the whole, I would in- 
quire, whether your committee, appointed by your 
association in June, 1817, to come out into Greene 
county, in this state, to take the first and second 
steps, and in the said county, to draw a citation to 
summon my attendance before your body in Con- 
necticut, which citation is dated, " Greenville, 
July 10th, 18ir," and signed by them, " in the 
name, and acting in the behalf of the associa- 
tion," could act legally ? On your own argument, 
therefore, I would ask, whether I have ever. been, 
called upon legally, by your body, and of course, 
whether your proceeding can be pronounced l&* 

gdtf 

" But a second consideration is, that your com- 
mittee's pledges to me, at Greenville, as I clearly 



27S 

understood him, have been entirely violated. Nox 
is this but a part, in my opinion, as respects him. 

m Another consideration is, respecting the timt 
that Was fixed upon for that trial, and a refusal to 
adjourn it, even to meet in the same place at a fu* 
ture time, that I might have an opportunity of de* 
fence. 

** Furthermore, that the charges exhibited against 
ifie were without foundation, as will probably ap- 
pear by affidavits which I have on band ; and also 
your principal witnesses, as I am informed, appear 
to have beeh guilty of the heinous crime of perju- 
ry at the time, if my affidavits, and other writings 
are aHowed to speak for themselves. Indeed, I 
have entered a complaint twice against One of them 
in Connecticut, but do not learn that it has been 
regarded. 

" Your trial was wholly ex parte, as will appear 
by substantial testimony on hand. T have the 
same authority, I trust, to prove that yon relin- 
quished those whom you called my witnesses, in 
the beginning of the trial, with the exception of, 
perhaps, deacon Woodward, who was called upon 
to criminate me ; and that you publicly declared, 
you did not wish to call upon any witnesses, but 
those who would testify against me, or to that pur- 
port. Also, that those members were particularly 
active at the trial, with whom I had, long before, 
commenced a deal for unchristian conduct, and 
against several of whom, I had filed complaints, and 
served them with copies for trial on the 11th of Ju- 
ly, 1815, at which time the constitution of the asso- 
ciation was by them altered by a verbal motion, 
which deprived me of the opportunity of dischar- 
ging my duty, and of obtaining an investigation of 
their respective cases. Moreover, the treatment 
of the Rev. Mr. Hotchkin, at Cornwall, as appears 
hy bis testimony, and affidavits from others, was 
at least novel, if not unprecedented in christian tri- 
btmals. 



276 

f? The result of the council at the time, is singly 
lar> and, I confess, such as I do not recollect to 
have seen, in form, on any other occasion. From 
the copy of the doings transmitted to me by your 
register, attested as a true copy, I am left ignorant 
whether it is myself, or the association that is in 
fault ; nor do I find for what I am censured, except 
for the use of my ministerial credentials. This is 
a subject on which I had not received the least in- 
timation, until I discovered it with the censure ac- 
companying the information. Nor do I believe* 
had the credentials been before your body, at the 
time, that the censure would have been hazarded* 
These are but a few considerations out of many, 
that I might suggest. 

" I will freely state also, that I have documents 
and affidavits, in relation to those against whom I 
had commmenced investigations, which will suitably 
accompany the complaints, and leave an impartial 
public ta judge who has been in fault. Should the 
facts transpire, so as to induce the impression, that 
the case is analogous to that of the " guilty judge," 
I presume it will be readily conceded, that I have 
been compelled to this developement, as no other 
possible method could be devised to redress my in- 
jured rights. I am fully persuaded the portrait 
will appear very unpleasant to some individuals* 
should it extend no further ; and most sincerely re- 
gret, that I am driven to this alternative. But 
I conscientiously feel it to be my bounden duty ; 
and pledge myself that I shall soon commit the 
work, which will shortly be completed, to the press* 
unless there is a speedy countermand, in order to 
give me a candid and impartial hearing. 

" I beg you, Rev. Sir, to rest assured, that the 
above suggestions are by no means designed to 
awe you with threats, for the purpose of gaining a, 
hearing, in accordance with the repeated requests 
which have already been made. These are by no. 
j^eans my own feelings if I know them, My de- 



2ff 

aign is, frankly to give you iny Own impressions;, 
and deliberate determination. I feel that the in- 
terests of religion and public good, demand them, 

" The proposal I have to make is this: Will 
the north association of Litchfield county assem- 
ble at Northeast, in the county of Dutchess, and 
the state of New-York, at, or near the Spencer 
place, so called, on Tuesday, the 1 7th day of Nov. 
next, at one, or two o'clock, afternoon, and give a 
hearing on the merits of the inquiries, or charges, 
as exhibited by your committee against me, at 
Greenville, on the lOtliof July, 181 7? If so, will 
you, Rev. Sir, have the goodness to return me an 
answer by the first of Nov. next? Or, should you 
accede to the request of giving me a hearing, at 
the place above specified, and the time which I 
have named be inconvenient, you will do me the fa* 
vour to give me an answer by the said first of Nov, 
Should I hear nothing from this request, I design 
to commence the printing, the beginning of th^ 
aext month. I am, Rev. Sir, yours, &c. 

« DANIEL PARKER. 

u Rev. Alexander Gillet, Moderator 

" of the last association of Litchfield 
" North, to be communicated." 

That the above communication might be duly 
received, 1 employed a man to go purposely and 
deliver it to the Rev. Mr. Gillet. Not the least at- 
tention, however, has been paid to my requests 
The association was not even notified to assemble $ 
nor was the trouble taken to return me any answer. 
Hence, duty impelled me to commence the publi- 
cation. 

Thus a cursory survey has been taken of a com- 
bination and its direful effects, unprecedented in 
the annals of protestant countries. Secluded as 
I have been from the scene of action, for nearly 
three years past, it is somewhat singular that I 
should have been enabled to procure documents* 



2F8 

which go to develope, so extensively, their nefari- 
ous attempts to accomplish a premeditated " pro* 
iscription." 

Could a full survey be taken of all the hidden 
wiles which have been adopted by individual and 
combined exertions, and artfully managed 'to en- 
snare the virtuous and unsuspecting, in order to se- 
cure their joint cooperation and sanction, in the 
completion of the object of their desires, how 
would this series of iniquity, if possible, be still 
greatly enhanced. 

I wish to be distinctly understood. I am far 
fVoai supposing, that all the members of the north 
association of Litchfield county were actively com- 
bined, or understanding^ engaged in the iniqui- 
tous pursuits which had been devised and pursued* 
The truly virtuous, who have acted at all, have no 
doubt been influenced by the artful designs of the 
guilty, without entertaining the least suspicions that 
the Achans were in their own camp, and the ac- 
tive instruments in each successive procedure. 
Nor would I, by any means indulge the idea, that 
because Achans may be numerous in one camp, 
it must necessarily follow, that every camp is equal- 
ly infested with them. But wherever they are, it 
is a duty which we are solemnly bound to dis- 
charge, to hunt them out and expose their iniquity. 
In the accomplishment of this important duty, and 
as a further delineation of facts in the illustration 
of the M proscription/' I deem it proper to enter 
upon this painful task, and exhibit some of the evi- 
dences which influenced me to enter on a course 
of discipline with some of the members of the as- 
sociation. 

It will be remembered that I had commenced a 
labour with Mr. Perry, on the alleged offence, 
of his having been guilty of prevarications and 
falsehoods ; but had not filed a complaint for his 
trial, at the time to which others had been cited, as 
the important witnesses to prove the facts, were 



279 

out of the state at the time, and their attendance 
could not then be procured. The cause of griev- 
ance then alleged, will be found inserted from the 
16th to the 22d pages inclusive. In confirmation of 
my statement, I shall subjoin a few certificates. 

In the autumn of 1817, 1 sent by Thomas Smith, 
Esq. a respectable merchant in the vicinity of 
Greenville, who was going on to New-York, to 
call on Judson Canfield and William A. Taylor, 
Esquires, late of Sharon, and procure their affida- 
vits relative to the falsehoods of Mr. Perry, res- 
pecting the school* On his return he informed me 
he had communicated my request to them, and 
they declared, that Mr. Perry had been guilty of 
falsehoods and prevarications, precisely as I had 
stated the particulars to him ; but that they decli* 
ned making affidavits, as I had not, at the time of 
Mr. Perry's instituting his school, rescued Mr. 
Taylor from the snares, into which Mr. Perry had 
artfully drawn him, which it was then in my power 
to have done. The following certificate has been 
received from Mr. Smith. 

* I hereby certify, that in the fall of 1817, Jud- 
son Canfield and William A. Taylor, Esquires, of 
New-York, in a conversation, stated to me, that the 
Rev. David L. Perry, of Sharon, had been guilty of 
falsehoods and prevarications with the Rev. Daniel 
Parker relative to a school ; and had the said Daniel 
dealt with the said Perry as he ought to have done # 
Mr. Perry would, or ought to have been silenced. 
"THOMAS SMITH. 

" November 9th, 1818." 

The certificate of Stoddard Smith, Esq. of 
Greenville, is of similar import. 

M I, the subscriber, do certify, that Judson Can- 
field, Esq. in the month of January last past, stated 
to me, that the Rev. David L. Perry, of Sharon* 



280 

had been guilty of falsehoods and prevarications 
with the Rev. Daniel Parker relative to a school, 
and other things. 

"STODDARD SMITH. 
"Nov. 9th, 1818." 

In the month of October last I went to New* 
York, accompanied by Mr. David L. Coe, a late 
graduate of William's college, and an assistant 
teacher in the Hudson academy. We called on 
Mr. Taylor, (Mr. Canfield was absent on a jour- 
ney) to whom I read the statement which I hiave 
given relative to Mr. Perry, contained from the 
16th to the 22dpages of this publication. Mr. Tay- 
lor declared that it was a true description of facts, 
and that Mr. Perry ought long since to have been 
punished for his falsehoods. 

The following is the certificate of Mr. Coe. - 

"These may certify, that I heard Mr. William 
A. Taylor declare to Mr. Parker, in October last, 
that the statement which Mr. Parker had read to 
him respecting the Rev. David L. Perry, of Sha- 
ron, which is contained from the 16th to the 22d 
pages inclusive, of his publication, entitled, " Pro- 
scription Delineated," is strictly correct ; and that 
Mr. Parker might have added many other prevari- 
cations and falsehoods of Mr. Perry, on the sub- 
ject of the school, which he had emitted m his 
statement. Mr. Taylor added, that he well knew 
that Mr. Perry was guilty of many falsehoods in 
relation to the schools. 

"DAVID L. COE. 

« Hudson, Nov. 7, 1818." 

The complaint against Mr. Harvey will be 
noticed, by reverting to the 65th page. The 
ground of charge, together with the singular exer- 
tions of Mr. Harvey, and an accompanying state- 
ment, will be seen from the 42d to the 4fth pagesu 



281 

It- will be borne in mind, that Mr. Harvey, in his 
endeavours to defame Mr. Randolph Stone, before, 
the consociation, in September, 1813, as I received 
the impression from the Rev. Mr. Lyman, imme- 
diately on his return home, insinuated that " Mr, 
Stone was unyielding to the faculty of college, was 
extravagant in his expenses, and lived in high fash- 
ions." The certificate of the faculty of Yale col- 
lege, inserted in the 44th page, will be found to 
contradict Mr. Harvey's statement, although he 
made the declaration, that he " had received his in- 
formation from one of the same faculty the prece- 
ding term." 

I subjoin a few documents which may exhibit 
further proofs on this subject. 

" I, Edward Gaylord, of Norfolk, in the county 
of Litchfield, of lawful age, certify, that acccording 
to the best of my recollection, on or about Septem- 
ber, 1813, at the meeting in Torringford, I receiv- 
ed the idea that Randolph Stone made needless ex- 
pense ; that he expended more than was necessary 
in getting an education ; that he followed the higb> 
est fashions, and must have his cookies as well as 
Others ; and in consequence of the above statement 
made by Mr. Joseph Harvey, of Goshen, I was in- 
fluenced in my vote to grant no further supply to 
Mr. Stone, from the funds of the charitable so- 
ciety. 

« EDWARD GAYLORD. 

"Norfolk, Oct. 1818." 

" I, Abel Hinsdale, of Torrington, in Litchfield 
county, of lawful age, depose and say, that at the 
meeting of the Litchfield north consociation, or 
charitable society, held at Torringford, on or about 
the 29th of September, 1813, the Rev. Joseph 
Harvey, of Goshen, did say and represent various 
things in respect to Mr. Randolph Stone, then a 
member of Yale college, (and who had been re- 

25 



28i2 

ceiyed under the patronage of the said charitable 
society, and received funds from the same,) preju- 
dicial to the reputation of the said Mr. Ston*. 
Mr. Harvey said that Mr. Stone made needless ex- 
pense, that he expended more than was necessary 
in getting an education ; and he was fashionable and 
dressed in style ; and in consequence of Mr. Har- 
vey's statement I had formed an unfavourable opin- 
ion of Mr. Stone. A motion was made, in conse- 
quence of Mr. Harvey's statement before the asso- 
ciation, to limit the expenses of charitable scholars 
*o two hundred dollars, and in consequence of 
Fhich, Mr. Stone was cut off from further assist- 
ance. Mr. Harvey likewise stated, that it would 
be injurious to the institution to bestow their mo^ 
Hey on unworthy objects who were lavish of it. 
"ABEL HINSDALE, 
* Torrington, Oct. 1, 1818." 

To prove the falsity of Mr. Harvey's represen- 
tations of Mr. Stone's prodigality y it may be pro- 
per to observe, that Mr. Stone had been at college 
but one year, when Mr. Haryey thus vilely aspers- 
ed him. He bad no funds during that year, except 
what I advanced him, of which I made a regular en- 
try on book of each sum, and the 43ate ; and de- 
frayed the whole of his expenses at the close of the 
year. The original entries are open for inspection 
to any one who is desirous of seeing them. The 
whole amount of expenses during the year, for 
clothing, board, tuition, books, contingencies, and 
expenses of every description, including the 
payment of thirty dollars for back tuition, did not 
athount to one hundred and eighty dollars. Never 
did his buttery bill in college amount to one dollar 
a quarter. Indeed, he has assured me that the 
whole amount of his buttery bills, while in college, 
would not exceed two dollars. In respect to his 
clothing, the whole burden of his expense having 
devolved on me for more than two years, (in con^ 



283 

sequence of Mr. Harvey's false aspersions,) ex- 
cept charities, which I shall hereafter notice, Mr. 
Stone uniformly consulted me in the purchase of 
articles for his clothing ; and very commonly I 
made the selection of the various articles myself. 
More economy and prudence, if as much, I never 
discovered in any young gentleman, which his bills 
must clearly testify. 

As a further confirmation of the frugality of Mr. 
Stone, and the estimation in which he was held by 
the members of the benevolent society in college, 
who were of course acquainted wilh his application 
of money, I shall here insert a document, transmit- 
ted by the committee of that society, for the pur- 
pose of repelling the foul slander of Mr. Harvey. 

" We, the undersigned, members of i the com- 
mittee of appropriation of the Yale college benevo- 
lent society,' having examined the record^ of said 
society, do hereby certify, that it appears from the 
records, that since the establishment of the socie-. 
ty y there has been no distribution of monies, in 
which Randolph Stone, now a member of the sen- 
ior class in Yale College, has not shared. We 
have even ranked Mr. Stone among the most wor- 
thy objects of charity in College; and we have 
made appropriations to him, for no other reason, 
than because we thought him needy and deserving. 

" We further certify that, on comparing the sums 
given to Mr. Stone, with those given to others, it 
appears that he has received, (in toto,) more mo- 
ney from the society than any other individual, ex- 
cept one, who belonged to the class above him. 

" As a proof of this, we inclose a list of the 
largest appropriations of the Benevolent Society, 
with the dates of the ordeis : 



284 



~MivWithington-. Mr. Stone. Mr.Bixley. Mr, Kimbali 



Feb. 22d, ) 
1814, 5 

June 22d, ) 
1814, 5 

March 6th, I 



25 
25 

$77 



5 

8 

20 



$25 
12 

$37 



515 
10 
13 



$38 



" This money we consider as having been fru- 
gally and judiciously expended by Mr. Stone. 
The members of the Benevolent Society believe 
there can be little doubt; but he will have a large 
appropriation when they sit next. He has also had 
the privilege of occasionally drawing books from 
our library for his use while in college. 

" EDWARD CLARKE, 
"JOHN M. CLAYTON, 
« JOHN D. ECCLES, 
H Members of the committee of ap- 
" propriation of the Benevolent So- 
" ciety of Yale College. 
; iC New-Haven, July 5th, 1815. " 

The complaints against Messrs. Stone and 
Starr, inserted from page 68 to 71, are for the 
foul crime of slander* The article of charge 
against Mr. Stone, he has acknowledged, but justi- 
fies his procedure. The evidence in proof, res- 
pecting Mr. Starr, is sufficiently furnished by the 
letter of Mr. Tallmadge, inserted in the 55th page. 

It is left with the reader to decide, whether 
there was just cause at grievance with either, or all, 
against whom I had commenced a labour; and 
whether policy did not require a speedy alteration 
of the constitution, as the only possible method of 
escape. Under these circumstances, is it a matter 
of wonder, that charges should have been framed 



2&a 

against me ? A time and place fixed upon for tria^ 
as we have already noticed? That such distin 
guished witnesses should be selected to testify? 
That the remarkable discovery should be made, 
that they could not as a body act out of their lim^ 
its ? That such singular measures should be pursu- 
ed at the trial, to accomplish the summit of their 
wishes ? the remarkable facility of Mr. Beach, in 
communicating statements of facts, both at home 
and abroad? And the novel method of reciproca- 
ting friendly feelings ? Or even the singular spec- 
tacle of one, from without, exclaiming, " they have 
done well?" 

To me it is evident, that the real facts and pro* 
ceedings " beggar description." 

It ought not, perhaps, to escape observation, that 
the exertions of the virulent first commenced by 
taxing me with " being plunged into the cares of 
the world." Those who first urged this plea have 
contributed liberally to the accomplishment of it. 
One of them shortly after greatly increased the 
burden, when, by his successful slanders of Mr. 
R. Stone, it caused the expense of his education 
chiefly to devolve upon me. But their united 
efforts have greatly added to the stock. The first 
persecution involved me in an expense of more 
than 150 dollars. The last has produced a sacri- 
fice of about 1300 dollars. This is truly to be 
" plunged into the cares of the world." Will they 
claim that it is any seeking of my own ? Or will 
they make a merit of their plea? 
- But the virulent, by their slanders, it would 
seem, " have out sinned all reckoning." Their 
activity in this respect, does not appear to have 
abated. Like heavy peals of distant thunder, the 
foul echo roars. Since they have been apprised 
that I was about to publish their proceedings, in- 
sinuations have been industriously propagated by 
them, that I was extremely virulent towards them, 
and that it argued the want of a christian temper- 
' 25* 



286 

But can it be called virulence to detect the robber 
or the assassin, although he may be clad in a come- 
ly dress ? Will it be denominated virulence to de~ 
iect guilt under whatever forms ? If so, what appel- 
lation must be given to the diligent magistrate, the 
energetic judge, and the faithful embassador of Im- 
manuel? 

Their very plea discovers it* origin and design* 
And yet, this very insinuation I have traced to the 
threshold of this combination. 

As if this would not excite sufficient odium, in 
the public mind, to prevent the reading or circula- 
tion of the publication, which might develope their 
iniquity, these active partisans have, of late, been 
laboriously engaged, in circulating fresh slanders, 
designed to affect my moral character. I have re^ 
eeived information from a credible source, that this 
last aspersion has been traced back, and found to 
center in these foul calumniators* 

The delineation of the "■proscription" will be 
closed, with a few considerations addressed to the 
members of the association, who convened at CoriP 
wall, on the second Tuesday of August, 1817. 

Rev. Sirs. — We have bees attending to the 
developement of a subject awfully alarming in its 
nature, and immensely interesting in its consequen- 
ces. Its effects will not be limited to the narrow 
bounds of time, but will extend into an awful and 
boundless eternity. It has been with painful emo- 
tions and heartfelt regret, that the unwelcome task 
has devolved on me, in the discharge of an act of 
duty, which imperious necessity seemed to require. 
Yet the cause of God, of truth, and of suffering 
humanity, appeared to me loudly to demand it. 
Had no other interest been involved but my own, 
and were there no direful effects resulting to oth- 
ers, in time and eternity, I would have bled in si- 
lence under the cruet wounds which have been itr* 
dieted, and have^endured the suffering, and tQT* 



281 

ture3 which have been imposed upon me without a 
struggle. Bat, to have thus calmly submitted, un* 
der existing circumstances, would, in my view 3 
have been a refusal " to rest in Heaven's determina- 
tion," and to involve myself in awful guilt, by con- 
cealing the known guilt of those, which I was so- 
lemnly bound to disclose* Will it be urged that 
the interests of religion will suffer by such a 
disclosure? It will be remembered that there is n© 
communion between holiness and sin, and the 
commission of iniquity under the assumed garb of 
purity is not religion^ God can take care of his 
church, without the aid of the openly vicious to 
preserve it from barm* 

What desk can be haHowed and blessed, by the 
grossly impure, as a -co-worker with infinite purity? 
What church and people could expect the smiles 
©f heaven under such an administration? Where 
could there be earthly confidence and serenity ? 
If one may be proscribed, with impunity, merely 
to screen guilty or satiate envy,, must not others 
^hare a similar fate, who endanger the views of the 
guilty, or impede the ambition of the aspiring T 
Would not iniquity thus " grow with their growth* 
and strengthen with their strength?" 

With these considerations, I could not hesitate, 
respecting the path of duty. In the preceding de« 
velopement, it has been my sincere aim to exhibit 
a plain narrative of the real state of facts, so far as 
I have been enabled to collect information. If 
there is the least suggestion which deviates from 
the truth, of which I have not the least knowledge 
or consciousness, I sincerely regret it, and most 
heartily retract it. 

In review of this subject, I request you to pause, 
and solemnly to reflect upon what yeu have done, 
Gan you justify your proceedings, when you shall 
be called to appear before the bar of infinite purity, 
^ where every work will be brought into judgment, 
with every secret*" as well as public transaction? 



288 

The solemn hour is near, when we shall meet face 
to face before a righteous and impartial judge, 
Territorial boundaries cannot there exclude our at- 
tendance. There no disguises can screen the guil- 
ty. There no intrigue, slander, falsehood, perjury, 
injustice, or oppression can elude detection. So- 
lemn, awful hour ! Permit me to ask you, who have 
been officious, and actively engaged in each perse- 
cution, whether you can reflect upon your conduct 
without the most alarming apprehensions? The lan- 
guage of inspiration is, " whoso privily slandereth 
his neighbor, him will 1 cut off." And have you 
not, waving all other considerations, violated the 
golden rule, " do to others as you would that others 
slibuld do unto you ?" Would you have been willing 
to be calumniated and traduced, when unconscious 
of having given any just cause for reproach ? 
Would you have been willing to be arraigned, in 
the manner and form which you have adopted and 
pursued with me, with all the aggravating circum- 
stances attending,, when you were ignorant of having 
given the slightest occasion for either censure or re- 
proof, and when you sought for no privilege but 
that of being heard in your own vindication ? Would 
you be willing to be censured and vilified for no 
other reason, than to shield your active persecu- 
tors from the detection and punishment of their own 
crimes t Had you attacked me on the highway, like 
a band of robbers, and destroyed my life, I should 
have deemed the act of moral turpitude far less ag- 
gravated, than in the present case. My reputa- 
tion, and that of my family and friends, would not 
have been wantonly tarnished. And could the act 
of the perpetrators have been concealed, the minis- 
try would not have been thus foully dishonoured. 
Who will be answerable for these evils, and the con- 
sequences which will flow from their commission ? 
Have not the probable falsehoods and slanders of 
two of your number primarily given rise to the 
whole of this traiji of evils I And had not an aj r 



289 

teration of the constitution been singularly effected, 
would not the subjects long since have been investi- 
gated, the sources of offence, in all probability, have 
been discovered, and the agents have received their 
merited punishment ? Have then my efforts to detect 
the guilty been the source of persecution ? The- 
consoling language of the divine Saviour is, " Bless- 
ed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' 
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

Will your Rev. body longer permit guilt to re- 
main undetected, or suffer the wounds of sin " to 
be slightly healed ?" Shall the system be still pur- 
sued with impunity by the active partisans, of per- 
secuting individuals who will not cordially unite 
with them to destroy those who endanger their 
guilt, or impede the accomplishment of their nefa- 
rious designs ? Will threatening insinuations be 
again tendered to Mr* Cowles, because he has used 
the candour to confirm any of the facts, relative to 
the laborious efforts which were adopted to procure 
a unanimous vote of censure? Should this be at- 
tempted either openly or clandestinely, will not the 
world know that he is followed with persecution, on 
the ground that he has " become an enemy because 
he has told the truth ?" 

If you take a survey of your churches, especial- 
ly those under the care of the active abettors, 
since the commencement of the first persecution, 
how have they flourished ? Is not a melancholy pic- 
ture presented? And is it reasonable to expect it 
will be otherwise, until "the old leaven is purged?" 

Are not these serious and important considera- 
tions? And are you not deeply interested in a tho- 
rough retrospect and careful examination of them ? 
We are assured of the awful consequences of" those 
who know their Lord's will, and do it not." God, 
the holy angels, and glorified spirits, have been 
spectators of all the transactions which have been 
pursued. 



29a 

Will any urge, as an excuse, or palliation of the 
enormities which have been perpetrated, that I 
have used plainness of speech in the preceding 
developeinent, or iri addressing to you these consi- 
derations 1 It will assuredly be granted, that the 
Subject and the occasion clearly demand it. Trans- 
actions of so extraordinary and unprecedented a na- 
ture, necessarily produce strong emotions, which 
flow out in expressions of forcible and plain language* 
Scriptural declarations are couched in the same 
plainness. " Woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill 
with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given 
him." " Woe unto the pastors that destroy and 
scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord." 

And now, Rev. Sirs, having endeavoured to dis- 
charge a painful duty, permit me to assure you, 
that I entertain no fears of the success of any com- 
bined exertions of the iniquitous and designing, ia 
any attempts they nrvy make to repe! ihu develops 
Bient of facts, for the purpose oi* still concealing 
their enormities. Should an effort be entered upon, 
I have no fears to meet them in time : but such 
must rest assured they cannot escape the judgment. 

I suggest for your consideration the language of 
Zaccheus. If you " have taken any thing from 
any man by false accusation, " what are your obli* 
gations of duty ? Are you not bound to heal the 
wounds you have inflicted? 

I take my leave, on addressing to you the words 
of inspiration: " Let the wicked forsake his way, 
and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him 
turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy, and 
abundantly pardon.' 3 



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